LuLaRoe Business Start-Up

Ok - so the last month I have been contemplating (as in overtaking my brain obsessing with) becoming a LuLaRoe Consultant and I've been googling and pinteresting (if that's a word?) looking for blog posts and articles to read on the steps to joining LuLaRoe and to get my questions answered but I'm not finding EXACTLY what I'm looking for.... So what do I decide to do? Create my own posts! This is post #1 about my business venture and I plan to document the entire process in case others out there are wondering the same questions as me! 

Ok, so what is LuLaRoe and why am I interested? 

LuLaRoe is a clothing line that is sold by independent consultants. It is a very young company, under 5 years old and is on track to hit $70 million in sales this year because the clothes are that amazing and they have a very successful business model. The sizing ranges to fit all bodies and styles and there are many clothing styles to choose from. One of the things I like about LuLaRoe is the variety of patterns. They only make a set number of items per pattern (only about 200 per size!!) so if myself and my BFF or neighbor are both consultants and place our orders for inventory, chances are we won't get ANY of the same pieces! This allows us to offer more options to our network. I also love that the pieces are flattering for all body shapes and sizes and help make women feel comfortable in their own skin. I love helping others feel confident and feel good about themselves and this is just another way! Plus, I also love that they have kids clothes! My daughter as a pair of LLR leggings and it's her favorite because they are so comfy and I know they will fit her for at least another year or two based on how the sizing works! One of my favorite items is the Julia which I even wore throughout my recent pregnancy and got more compliments than with any other outfits! 

Not only do I like the clothes but I like the business opportunity. I have some experience with marketing both through my career as well as my Younique business and enjoy marketing and networking. I like that it is something that can be done from home in my own time providing additional income for my family for extra money. I also love the idea of growing an online network and meeting other women, making new friendships and learning from others! :)

So I'm interested in joining. Now what do I do? 

This is what I was having a hard time finding the exact steps. I was looking for everything to be spelled out for me so I'm sharing with you! 

1. You need to find a Sponsor. Your Sponsor is someone that will provide you with the documents needed to sign up and give you guidance through the process plus provide you training once you onboard! This person is key to your success so make sure to ask lots of questions and make sure it is someone you are comfortable with and can learn from. (If you don't already have a sponsor I'm happy to chat and discuss the business with you. You can email me at LuLaRoeErinRosario@gmail.com). 

2. One you find a Sponsor, you need to fill out your basic information to start the process of getting into the queue. Once you fill out the basic information you will receive your Consultant ID # to get the process started.  You will receive an email explaining to you what documents you need to fill out and email back to onboarding@lularoe.com.  The documents are:

-Signed independent Consultant Agreement (first and last page only)

-Voided check (see below for more details)

-Initial package (inventory related)

-Consultant ID (provided for you after you give your basic information when signing up

The voided check is for your payments to be set up. There is NO payment or credit card information due at this time. This was a huge area of research for me! I did not want to give payment information right away until the order was actually placed. There will be no credit card information required until you have your onboarding call and they actually place your initial order. This made me feel much more comfortable!

3.  What is the cost? 

The start up cost depends on your initial order. It tends to be between $5,000-$6,000 for 300+ pieces. That scared me away at first but don't let it!! That cost is paying for all those items and you can more than double your profit. For example, my initial order is about $5,200 but if I sell all the inventory it will sell for just over $12,000!!!!  That's more than double my initial investment. I'll take it!

I look at it this way - if I get my order and hate running the business, I will more than make back my investment. The company also offers to buy back items for a 15% restocking fee so you still do not lose out on money. I feel like you never know unless you try something if it's for you so what's to lose?! I always find success with taking risks and it helps me learn and grow so this is just another adventure I'm excited to start!! 

4.  What next? 

Ok, so you made the decision, signed your forms and filled out your first order form...Next you wait for your onboarding call. It can take currently from 6-8 weeks to receive the call. Only a certain amount of people are onboarded each day. During this wait time you can start getting your business and supplies ready for when your shipment comes in so you are ready to get started! (Another post will be coming on this with more details. Stay tuned)! 

5. Onboarding call - when you get this call you will confirm your order over the phone (it can be changed at this point if you want) and give your form of payment. You can pay in any form or multiple forms of payment to get started. 

6. Wait for your order and get ready to have fun!! Stalk UPS because it will be like Christmas morning when that delivery comes!! And start spreading the word! Plan your launch party and more! I have many other ideas and ways for you to prep your business while you wait so feel free to email me to chat if I don't get the blog posts done in time to answer your questions! I love blogging but I'm a busy mama these days! 😊 

I'm excited for my journey and sharing with you! 

~Erin Leigh

LuLaRoeErinRosario@gmail.com 

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A New Adventure

I'm baacckkk! ;) New season, new adventures right??   In my house, we are always talking about adventures.  We take adventures down the street to check out new construction, adventures down to the basement to explore, traveling adventures and seeing new places. You name it, it's an adventure!  Well, this fall I am off on my new adventure. 

As anyone who has followed my blog knows, I began it to document my post pregnancy steps to a better and healthier and more fit me.  I like to create healthy recipes for my family and share them, try new fitness adventures and help motivate others to do the same, and document some of my favorite family memories (and some over the top parenting moments).  Last winter I stopped blogging and I have learned over the past nine months that motivating others is self motivating for me.  It helps keep me in check and helps me work extra hard on being the best I can, in many areas.  I mean, you can't try to motivate and encourage others to do something you aren't doing right?!  I have not had as much self discipline these past 9 months and I can directly link it to the timing of holidays/trip to Mexico/taking a break from blogging. 

So, here I am...nine months later ending a summer that definitely consisted of a few too many ice cream cones, s'mores and cheese burgers, more drink calories than I can count and putting workouts on the back burner and instead choosing beach trips, park trips, zoo trips, play dates, froyo dates for dinner and all the other fun things that happen with toddlers in the summer.  (I will say, it was a VERY enjoyable summer if you can't tell)! ;) Yes, I ran a few times per week, but just to maintain my fitness level and not to push myself further. But, now I am ready to push ahead.  And what better time than now, with a trip to Aruba in less than 4 months to get ready for!

So, what is my new adventure you might ask?  I am starting with the 21 Day Fix which is a workout by Beachbody and ordered Shakeology for the first time to go along with it!  It just came yesterday so the plan is to start Sunday (I like starting things at the beginning of the week). I am getting my hubby on board too! :) The 21 Day Fix is 30 minute videos once per day paired with portion control to lose weight/reset/tone up.  Shakeology is a meal replacement shake you drink once per day that is supposed to curb cravings, increase energy levels and has several other health benefits! I am excited to see if it increases our energy level because we are always exhausted! I am looking at this as an end of summer jump start for myself! :) I plan to follow it up with another workout once I complete it.

Now is the time for me to get back on track! Is anyone else feeling the same way?  That being said, I would LOVE a few people to join me in doing it to be in a little group and keep each other accountable!  If you are interested in checking it out first you can check out the 21 Day Fix .  It is highly encouraged to purchase Shakeology with it. There are thousands of success stories with this one shake a day meal replacement, but I can't say from experience because I haven't tried it yet. I will let you know after my 30 days of it, but they do recommend better results pairing the workout with the shakes!

So there you have it! I am back! :)

~Erin Leigh

Summer Vacation 2014

Seeing as August is half way over, and our family vacation was already a month ago, I figured it was time to document our trip.  We went to Maine...my July stomping grounds growing up. 
It was very meaningful having my husband and two kids come to the place that I enjoyed going to every single summer as a child and have so many memories built around that time. I love that we are continuing the tradition and look forward to making our own yearly vacation tradition as well. :)

Well, needless to say, we had a blast.  We always do.  Our kids our the best little travelers alive.  They don't complain (well ok, there were a few complaints within the first 10 minutes, but once we really got on the road it ended...for the most part), they go with the flow, they sleep in the same room and enjoy it (which I am sure someday it will come to a screeching halt), and are so much fun to be around.  It was the first time that Nate and I went with the two kids. Our last trip we went, I was about 33 weeks pregnant with Anya...walking, moving, bending, lifting, cooking, sleeping, breathing and anything else you can imagine was painful for me at that time...but that can be saved for another time...Anyways... this was our first trip to Maine as a family of 4 with my extended Dearing side of the family!

It was a pretty simple trip.  Wake up (a little earlier than I had hoped), breakfast, coffee and relaxing at "our beach house" as Jaxon called it (and still calls it), followed by beach time, late afternoon naps for the kids corresponding with beverages, board games and cards for us with parents, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles - whoever was around, followed by seafood dinners, move beverages, s'mores and hanging out on the deck.  It also included ice cream cones, a night out with my hubby, some running (ok, a run) and last but not least, some QT with Grammy D.  Just a typical New England summer vacation and it was actually pretty relaxing...as relaxing as a vacation is with two toddlers.  I didn't want it to end!

So, here are some pictures to sum up our week of fun :)

And we're off!

My heart

The bench was the spot to take shoes off each trip to the beach.

Daddy and daughter time

Our evening hangout

Getting warmed up

Some hide and seek with feet

Sticks and stones

Our evening view

Naptime fun!

And some morning fun!

Sunset selfie

A house full of pizzas from Portland Pie

Of course had to play some beach volleyball with my brothers!

Playing with Bigbee

The girls

Nothing like having my favorite humans all in one place!

:)

Best brothers ever :)

Waves

A vacation isn't a vacation without some ice cream!

The kid loves boogie boards

The little princess

Card tricks with Uncle Kev

Parents night out!

A pit stop at the bench

And a smooch ;)

Our final trip to the beach.

Good by Maine - until next time! ;)

There is not much I love more than travelling with my family!  Can't wait for our next adventure just around the corner!

~Erin Leigh

"Travel as much and as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can.  Life's not meant to be lived in one place."

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."

 

Organization - Week 2

So last week was week 2 of organization projects.  I am tackling/implementing three things a week until...who knows when...and then maintaining!    If you need to catch up you can read about the three things I tackled week 1 here. 

 

The first project I tackled during week 2 was our coat closet...the one we actually use for coats and not toys!  You can see the before and after below!  Talk about a wreck before...tell me I am not the only one whose closet can quickly get to this status?! I went to Target and bought two large baskets...one is holding winter hats/gloves/scarves and then the other is holding summer stuff.  I also picked up a shoe rack.  I LOVE how organized it is now!  (The things that excite me these days are starting to scare me....who am I?!?!)  Anyways...that was task 1 = complete! :)

 

 

Project 2 of the week was implementing another round of "nesting" aka - purge through remaining baby belongings, organize, sell and donate.  I sold items to five people that I am meeting up with this week and added more to my donation collection.  One step closer to basement organization and renovation!!

 

And lastly, the third project, that is only partially completed because it is a LONG project, and quite frankly, I don't have hours on end to work on it...but, I made some progress! My closet (our closet).  Closet, oh closet. I have such a love/hate relationship with you.  I love clothes and shoes and accessories (maybe too much) but it quickly gets unorganized and I haven't purged my own stuff for some time.  So, I started on Saturday.  You can clearly see that it is a complete disaster!  Well, I organized the shoes, pulled out clothes that I won't wear again, separated the remaining clothes by season/style (aka work clothes, pants, casual, dresses, sweaters etc). 

 

I'm clearly thrilled. ;)

 

I will be honest, the left side is still a disaster but I am loving this after shot!  The organized look makes me so happy. Let's see how long the shoes can stay that way! (Probably until my kids find their way into my closet and try on all my shoes)!  The left side of the closet is on my list this week!  One step at a time!

 

 

So, those are my three things I did this week to de-clutter/organize!  Did you do anything? On top of that, I made a goal of 5 workouts for the week giving me a little leeway with a minimum of 4 workouts.  Well - 5 workouts it was - 1 of them being a run on Saturday! It was a nice sunny day!  Overall week 2 was a pretty productive week! :)

 

~Erin Leigh

 

 

 

Nesting

I feel like I am nesting.  I am on an organization and de-clutter frenzy.  Seriously...recently my husband even asked me what had gotten into me!  It all started with a discussion of moving...(locally if you were wondering)...and as soon as we started really thinking about it...I started really thinking about all the things we would have to move.  My focus became the basement.  The place where we have SO much "stuff."  So, I started with the largest task (why start small??)...baby clothes.  I feel like I have baby clothes coming out of my ears. Just thinking about it is making me want to close down the computer and go work on it some more!  I started going through baby clothes first to organize by size and gender (talk about time consuming), sort, sell and donate.  Would you believe this project is still going on 3 weeks later? Just with baby clothes?! It is amazing how much you accumulate over the life span of two toddlers!  (On a side note, the funny part is boys NB-12 months were all perfectly and neatly folded and organized by size and type of clothing in a bin... that was the point that baby #2 arrived...after that point, all remaining clothes for him and every single article of clothing she ever had were just thrown into bins in unfolded clumps, with no rhyme or reason...Tell me I am not the only one who threw organization like that out the window when child number 2 arrived?? I swore that wouldn't happen...oh it did!) 

Anyways...in this de-clutter project,  I have given some clothes away, saved some sentimental items, taken a trip to Once Upon a Child, sold some online and filled three big trash bags of little tiny clothes to donate...and I am still working on going through the rest!  Unbelievable.  However, this experience has led me to a start a new system (if I ever get through this phase).  Here it is...now once my kids grow out of something, I will sell or donate immediately and not let it build up in the basement.  Go ahead, you can say it, "Wow, Erin, you are a genius!"  I know, I know.  (Now, in my defense, we were unsure if we were going to have more children so of course we were saving everything in case Baby #3 was a possibility...but it is looking like we are ending with sweet Baby #2...hence my de-clutter nesting frenzy).

So, I already started this new system on Sunday.  As I was putting Anya's laundry away (laundry, oh laundry...overcoming that will be saved for another post), there were 4 shirts that no longer fit her and in in great condition... I posted online and they sold.  Those shirts went right from her room to the car...completely bypassing the basement! Amazing. I am liking this system already!  Also, then I can take any money from the clothes I sell, and buy new clothes for the kids for the next season.  Am I being frugal?? Who would have thought?!  Seriously, I am starting to think I am brilliant!

So, that is my de-clutter nesting story and one of the ways I am vowing to be more organized effective immediately!  If you feel unorganized or have a build-up of "stuff" you should give it a try!  Organize, sell and donate items as you stop using them!  It's making me feel more de-cluttered already!  I have a few other things I am working on in order to stay on top of house work and little projects while saving time, but that can be saved for another day, another time, another post! I am still working on meal planning on Sundays which you should try out if your weeks are busy like mine!! Super helpful! 

So, how do you de-clutter and organize?  Or do you?? ;)

~Erin Leigh

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The Speed of Life

I love my life and everything about it and the fact that I feel like I was gifted with this ability of being a professional multi-tasker.  Sometimes I feel like I live on fast forward and I am unable to slow down.  I wouldn't ever even attempt to live in slow motion because I know I would flat out fail. I multi-task all day long every single day. I feel like I am feeding, bathing, teaching and playing with the kids all while mentally planning the next activity, meal, event or play date all while thinking about the emails I need to respond to and work related tasks that I need to complete and by when all while planning the order of how I am going to clean the house in the most minimal amount of time all while thinking about my next date night and what I am going to wear and who is going to babysit all while figuring out when I am going to fit in my workout...all while...well you get the point. 

In times that I am actually relaxing (which I can't remember the last time that was...even my daily showers are rushed so I can accomplish as many things as possible before my children wake up), my mind still goes 100 miles an hour thinking about many things (in no particular order)...work, moving, investments, renovations, parenting, schools, kids activities, church, fitness, new recipes, new ideas, blogging, being a better wife, being a better mother, being a better person, what I am going to eat today (yes I even plan that out), what new items I "have to have," what I need to remember to look up when I have a chance, what I need to add to the grocery list, what our next vacation will be (I think about vacations frequently) ..and that is just the start!  How do you slow down and focus on one thing at a time? Turn your mind off from going a million miles an hour?  Am I alone in this million miles per hour lifestyle or do you share that same speed with me? 

There aren't enough hours in the day! 

I will sign off with this "relaxing" photo...what you don't see is behind the scenes we had a screaming child that didn't want her life vest on and I was fearful of my children falling off the boat.  It was a beautiful picture though. :) 



What is YOUR life's speed? 

~Erin Leigh

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Parenting - Yup, I'm going there...

I always want to be the best at everything.  Call me a perfectionist, unrealistic, goal driven...whatever you call it, that is me.  I think it was instilled in me from my Dad, who does everything to the best of his ability and through that, has taught me to do the same.  I know that most people try to do everything to the best of their ability, but he brings it to another level.  We always joke that I am my "Father's Daughter" in so many ways.  But, when I became a parent, it brought this whole "being the best" to a whole new level.  Now, I needed to be the best not only for myself, but two little lives depended on it.  Talk about pressure!  It is definitely by far, the biggest responsibility ever.  This "being the best" no longer is just meeting certain criteria at work, being a great wife, daughter, sister, friend and human being.  It now meant that two little people are completely dependent on me and it is up to me (and my hubby of course) to mold them into amazing people!

So, of course, when I first became pregnant, I would look things up online, pick people's brains who have been through it, be anxious about certain transitions going smoothly and read about it some more.  You want to know what I have learned?  A lot! So, let's start here...

There are SO many articles you can read that claim that they have the right way for anything and everything which just sets people up for failure.  It may sound great on paper but when you attempt the method and it doesn't work, you end up so quick to say "what did I do wrong?" People ask you questions, and sometimes when you give them an answer, the look on their face shows that they don't approve. The media and people put so much more pressure on mama's than they need!  Here is an early example of my own:

I chose not to breastfeed.  Some people may have just read that statement and cringed, wondered why or didn't give it a thought.  I chose not to breastfeed round 1, because I had complications from my C-section and I decided rather than stress about breast feeding, I wanted to just enjoy and get to know my little man.  Round 2 I chose not to because it worked for my first.  But, why should I have to explain to anyone why I didn't breastfeed?  Why did I feel the need to explain that to anyone who asked? Why do people ask in the first place??  Why do people think it is acceptable to say that my child will not be as healthy or that my bond with him will not be as strong as if I had chosen to breastfeed?  Seriously? As a matter of fact, my children are and have always been healthy and I cannot imagine a bond being any stronger. People should not judge me for NOT breastfeeding just as I should not judge someone FOR breastfeeding.  Different people, different opinions.  No one is right, no one is wrong.  It is what is best for you and your child at the time.  That is just one small example, and I am sure if you are a mother you have MANY more examples to add!

Now, fast forward to the toddler years.  Now that I am in it, where it is more about molding these children and teaching them lessons of the world, I see more and more articles, blogs and pins of all different parenting methods. They are geared more towards the toddler age and older when teaching and discipline becomes part of your daily routine. When these little humans are babies you just need to keep them fed, clean and safe...but as they get older is where the molding begins. There are so many parenting styles...Instictive, Attachment, Authoritative, Permissive and Hellicopter to name a few.  There are those parents that hit and those that don't.  Those that yell and those that don't.  Strict or lenient. Calm or high strung. I could go on and on.  People then try to place themselves into one of these categories and when they fall short in an area, feel guilty or pressure to meet some invisible expectation.  There is already enough pressure, why try to fit into some category?  Yes, it is great to research online and get ideas on how to improve yourself, but it is not great to put extra pressure on yourself to make yourself into someone that you aren't, and then feel guilty when you don't meet that unrealistic expectation.

So, you know what I have decided on? MY way is the right way.  Yup, that's right.  Don't question it and don't follow it...because YOUR way is the right way for YOUR children.  YOU know your child better than anyone writing an article.  YOU know their ins and outs and what makes them tick. It is up to YOU to make the best decisions you can for them and continue doing the best you can!  I do a lot of things right, and continue to work on things daily but I never doubt myself.  I pick the brains of those I trust and that is where I find my guidance because when there is trust, there is no judgment.  I do not look to live up to any one parenting method because there is no one right way.  Each child is different and may respond differently to different methods and only you would know that.  I already know my two children respond differently, so it is up to me (us) to react appropriately to how they learn best.  A blanket parenting style wouldn't work for my family.  But, that doesn't mean it doesn't work for yours.  Like I said, YOUR way is best. 

So, a word of advice to current mama's and mama's to be...listen to yourself and your child.  Do not allow the Internet or people outside of your "circle of trust" to fool you into thinking there is one right way to do things. Use the Internet and those IN your "circle of trust" as a tool to research but don't take it too seriously.  What works for one doesn't work for another.  It doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong, because everyone is different.  Do not let anyone's disapproval misguide you if you have a vision for your child/children/family.  

So, I can say that I AM the best mother...for my children. Parenting is the most difficult yet most rewarding job there is! So to all you mama's...keep up the good work, don't let ANYONE bring you down and listen to your heart! :) 

~Erin Leigh

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