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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The Road to 3

Holy moly. My last post was in January and at the time I was suggesting that I was going to begin blogging again. Well that didn't happen soooo I'm not promising anything here but I am popping in to say that I miss blogging and do plan to bring it back! 

A lot has happened in the last 5 months since I made those delicious stuffed peppers. (Glad I just saw that post because really, that recipe was great and it reminded me I should make it again)! 

So, what have I been up to? The usual - parenting and growing a human for 34 weeks now! Eviction is coming up and I plan to document my life going from 2 to 3 children. Why? Because when we were considering having our third, I searched online so many times for articles about adding to the crew and didn't get much guidance. A few articles but nothing that helped me make my decision, which I really turn to google for most of the time! 

Here is my pregnancy summary so far: 

So my first two pregnancies were pretty horrible. I was miserable and uncomfortable the majority of the time.   What I've learned is that the third is actually easier, for me at least, because I am so busy with the first two, especially with toddlers saying "Mom" 27,482,874,728 times a day and asking for 27,389,581,724 things, there is no stopping to allow yourself to feel nausea or exhaustion! I felt sick only the times that I stopped and sat down and relaxed, and then realized if I stay on the go I don't even recognize how I feel. So, all that being said, first trimester wasn't so bad. 

A few interesting experiences I have had starting with our Puerto Rico trip at 11 weeks pregnant. We traveled to Puerto Rico for a family vacation and returned on Jan 8. 7 days later an article was published on Jan 15 that pregnant women should not travel to Puerto Rico because of the Zica virus. Being the Type A self that I am, I called my Dr. about it before her office even heard about it. Thankfully, I'm Zika free from what I know but talk about a little moment of stress! 

Up until 15 weeks and 3 days I insisted that we were not going to find out the gender this time. We found out for our first two and I just knew that I HAD to have the surprise factor. I needed this to be different in some way. Well, I'm not sure who I was that 15 weeks and 3 days but Erin the Planner came back that day and HAD to know! So, I scheduled an appointment at a place 45 minutes away on the day I turned 16 weeks to determine if the boys or girls were going to be outnumbered.  I was unable to wait until my normal 18 weeks appointment 2 weeks later (when it would be free) and just HAD to know (and pay to know)...so my amazingly supportive hubby met me when he got out of work at a Dunkin Donuts off the highway to drive 60 + minutes in a snowstorm with no dinner to find out the gender. I fed my toddlers PB&J in the back seat and was convinced this would be special for them.  Well if you have ever experienced a toddler falling asleep exactly 15 minutes before arriving somewhere and then attempting to wake them up, it's never fun. So, the beginning of the appointment consisted of whining, complaining and crying. I'm pretty sure when they eventually said "it's a girl" my son was saying he didn't feel good (still crying). We then proceeded to drive through Hartford traffic (still in a snowstorm) with my son saying he didn't feel good and whining and whimpering the ENTIRE 60 minutes. We finally made it off the highway to the Dunkin Donuts to get the other car and no sooner than my hubby pulling out of the parking lot, did my son begin projectile vomiting all over himself and the car. It was nonstop...and so I'm gagging, almost vomiting right along with him! He threw up the entire way home. Needless to say, after cleanup and cleaning the car seat (have you ever cleaned puke out of the nooks and crannies of a car seat?!?) we finally ate dinner at 10pm. Good times! It has made for a good laugh and funny memory though....now. ;)

Other than that, it's been a low key pregnancy. A few uneasy moments but overall it's been uneventful thankfully. :)

I am very excited to bring this third child into the world and have an uneven parent/child ratio. I'm always up for a challenge. Something I find funny is that 90% of people assume you are having a fourth when you are pregnant for your third. Anyone with three or more notice that?? I'm shocked at how many people ask when the next one is coming. As if three isn't acceptable. It's not a two for one deal people. 

I'm excited for the baby phase. I know there will be sleepless nights and times that will be tough, but I'm excited for the newness and innocence of the newborn. The snuggles and cuddles and dependence. Watching the bonds grow between the older siblings and the baby.  I'm promising myself to not rush the phases because I now have learned they go by so fast. Knowing this is (99.99%) our last baby, I want to soak it all up and live in the moment. That is one of my most difficult challenges. I'm always looking ahead, planning and being my Typa A (sometimes B) self. I want to be sure to enjoy each day, each phase and slow down life because it's flying by too fast! I want to achieve new successes but not rush the process. I want to continue to give my, now three kids, a fun childhood and want them to know I love every minute of it. 

I'm excited to see if going from two to three is all that I anticipate and expect. I'm expecting that is will be "easy" in comparison to bringing home a newborn with an 18 month old at home. That was hard and a very tough transition and year, but now those two are 3 (almost 4) and 5 and super helpful. They cannot wait for their new sis to arrive and I can't wait for that moment of them meeting. It makes my heart melt thinking about it. I'm so excited to see how much she weighs and wonder if it will be 7 pounds 11 ounces like her siblings! I'm excited to see what color hair she has! (Redhead maybe)?! Im excited to finally decide on a name (although we are close)! I'm excited to show her the world and shower her with love! I'm also excited to not be pregnant anymore - just sayin' ;) I'm excited for all these things yet not rushing these last few weeks! I will keep you updated on the delivery, transition and give you the scoop when we welcome our littlest into the world. 💗 And I will make sure to keep the world posted on going from two to three kiddos in case others like me are googling for guidance! 😉

~Erin Leigh 

PS. If you want to follow along on my Parenting journey, post pregnancy fitness and healthy recipe ideas you can follow me on Facebook or like my Fit.Fun.Lifestyle page here:  https://www.facebook.com/fitfunlifestyle/

Best Stuffed Peppers EVER!

So recently I've been creating new recipes and just not finding time to share the recipes - just the pictures! I just HAVE to share this one with you though! I modified another recipe I found and it was Sooo good! I just finished eating some leftovers for lunch....and I'm not a leftover person! 

Stuffed Peppers (with a Mexican Twist)

Ingredients: 

4 bell peppers 

1 lb ground turkey 

1/2 cup quinoa 

1 cup corn

1 can black beans

1 10oz can mild enchilada sauce 

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp cumin 

1 tsp salt 

Garlic powder to taste 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375. Grease baking dish and set aside. 

Cook ground turkey in pan - season with garlic powder. At the same time cook the quinoa as directed on the package. Cut tops off peppers, empty out the inside and place in the greased pan. 

When the turkey and quinoa are cooked, combine together in a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix together. (How simple is that?!?!) 

Now fill the peppers with the mixture, cover with foil and pop in the oven for 55 minutes. Remove foil, add a little cheese on top of each pepper and put back in the oven uncovered for 5 minutes.

Done. So good. Top with salsa and sour cream if you wish. Have I mentioned how delicious this is?!?  

Quick, easy and delish! And healthy too. Let me know if you try it! :)

Happy Friday! 

~Erin Leigh 

Rosario 2015 in Review

Wow - 2015 came and went faster than I can even believe.  I just spent some time going through pictures and reminiscing and can't help but be so thankful and feel so blessed! I would summarize 2015 as a year of travel, fun and firsts!  It may just be my favorite year so far!  Here are some of the reasons why...

We kick started 2015 with a trip to Aruba with my favorite humans. It may was definitely the best week ever! We had SO much fun, the kids loved it there (they still ask when we are going back!) and we were with great company! What could be better than that?!

We had birthdays, as usual.  Jaxon turned 4 in April and Anya turned 3 in September.  (And Nate and I keep getting older too)!  Jaxon chose a bowling party and Anya chose a merry-go-round party.  For both parties our kids were surrounded by people that love them and we are so thankful for all the great friends we have in our lives! :)

Then there were the day outings and fun Fridays.  I am so thankful to be able to share this time with the kids and do fun things with them.  They are always excited about what our next adventure is.  Some of the fun included the zoo, splash parks, apple picking, strawberry picking, petting zoo, Big E, museums, Disney on Ice, Falcons game, pool days with friends, the air show (that included a 2.5 hour car ride to go 15 miles - just don't want to forget about that)! Then of course there was slip and slides, lots of s'mores, play dates, pizza parties, pool parties, cookouts, sand boxing (is that a word?), feeding ducks, red light green light, duck duck goose, swinging and sliding, running and diving, car driving, bike riding, smoothie dates and I could probably keep going.  (I am realizing these kids have it good!) Oh, and we can't forget mini golfing and ice cream cones! :)

Disney in May was a great time! Between pool days at the hotel and park days we had the perfect fun and relaxing balance. The kids even had their first hibachi experience! A wonderful week as a family! 

July was our annual trip to Maine with my Dearing side of the family. A whole week with family, good seafood, the beach a few steps away and a lot of R & R.  It is one of my favorite and most relaxing weeks each year!

October, we were fortunate enough to have an adult vacation to Jamaica with some best friends! It was an Amazing and unforgettable time! We spent many hours in the ocean, had many many frozen beverages, relaxed (I even read a book for the first time since having children)!! We also did kayaking, paddle boarding, a booze cruise, the slide at Margaritaville and did I mention frozen beverages? ;)  (Bring me back!!)

We came home from Jamaica and went on a family trip to Naples, FL with the kids. It was also a great week exploring an area that my parents have fallen in love with.  We realized why they love it so much! We also saw the most beautiful sunsets I've seen in my life!

Of course we can't forget about the firsts!  Jaxon's first day of Pre-K (which included many many tears from Mommy)!!  Anya has her first big girl bed! And I can't leave out our trip to the ER with Jaxon for stitches in the chin (the trip to the ER is not a first, but the stitches are).

Then there is our basement project that will be completed the very beginning of 2016! Nate has spent so much time working on the basement this year and learning all on his own how to do it. He has done 90% of the basement on his own and it is amazing!! I am SO proud of him for all his hard work and thankful that we will have this great space for our family to make more memories! :)

And to finish up the year, we made the announcement on Christmas that Rosario party of 4 will be Rosario party of 5 in 2016! We are excited for this new addition to come into our family.  The kids are so excited (thankfully)!  It's so fun to see their excitement and hear their curiosity - the questions I'm getting already are so funny.  Like "if there is a baby in your belly, does that mean you ATE the BABY?!"  And, "sooo, does the baby just slide out?!?!"  Those are just a few. I'm sure I'll have more good ones in 2016! :)

We even had some date nights throughout the year which are much needed after all this kid activity! :) 

We are so thankful for all we have been blessed with and our opportunities and experiences.  We are also so thankful for our family and friends that are like family. 

Since 2015 was so great, I'm up for the challenge of making 2016 even better! <3

I hope that you had a wonderful year and that 2016 brings you all happiness, love and good health!

~Erin Leigh

No More Excuses!

My next trip (yes a trip, not a vacation - ever read that article? If you have kids and you have not read it, you must) is in just 7 weeks. This is usually the best motivation for me and my workouts, but for some reason, this fall it has been much more difficult than usual to get into the swing of things.  Maybe it's the shorter days, cooler weather, early mornings?? Regardless of what it is...NO excuses allowed and I am going to re-start my disciplined mentality. This week was practice week...I worked out 4 out of 6 days.  Sounds good right? Well the 21 Day Fix is actually 7 out of 7 days...technically 21 days straight.  So, 4 out of 6, if I was being graded is actually 66%...a failing grade.  Not great.  That's why I say it was a good warm up week.  Getting back into the swing of things (ish) and preparing for next week - week 1 of the full 21 Day Fix.  I did eat healthy minus a few chocolates here and there, but Halloween candy is hanging around and sometimes is just too hard to resist.  I did resist probably 90% of the time, which is a passing grade so I'll take it!

So....21 Day Fix is upon me...21 days straight.  Right through Thanksgiving.  I am excited for the challenge. Love the workouts. I did stop drinking Shakeology so I'm interested to see if I get the same results without drinking it this time around.  So...I guess this post is all about me blabbing to motivate myself and get me ready for my upcoming challenge. When I put it in writing, I'm more apt to stick to it! ;)  So here it is.  I'm hoping I pass!

What's your plan to battle the holiday bulge? ;)

~Erin Leigh

Crockpot Chicken and Spinach

Ok the title doesn't sound super appealing but I couldn't come up with anything creative right now. The other day I needed to make a meal and didn't feel like going to the store so I created something with what we had. It was quick, easy, healthy and delish (my favorite combo)! I'm thinking of adding it to my freezer meal list! Here it is! 

Crockpot Chicken and Spinach 

Ingredients: 

4 boneless chicken breasts 

1/2 bag spinach (you can also use 1 package of frozen spinach) 

8 oz corn 

1 can black beans 

2 cups salsa 

1 teaspoon paprika 

1 teaspoon chili powder 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

Directions: 

Throw everything into the crockpot. 

Cook on low for 8 hours (or high for 4).

Shred Chicken. Mix everything together. 

That's it. You're welcome. ;)

I ate mine on top of salad with a little shredded cheese on top. My hubby ate his as tacos with taco shells and salsa. 

We had plenty of leftovers for a few lunches so you can also half the recipe if you don't want as many leftovers. 

There you have it...my first fall concoction of 2015! More to come! 

I meant to get a picture of my perfect looking plate of food but I dug in too quick...so this will have to do! 

~Erin Leigh

A Project on the Horizon

This month has been such a great month!  I was looking forward to it for quite some time! My mid month birthday was sandwiched between a trip to Jamaica with some of our closest friends and a trip to Florida with the kiddos!  The month was so fun, unfortunately flew by and now I'm having a little bit of a reality check.  Time to get back into the swing of things, into the groove, get the house in order and get our suitcases officially unpacked!  To add to that...not only have I not worked out a lot this past month after working out almost every day for the 7 weeks leading up to Jamaica, but I also definitely did my fair share of eating and drinking lots of deliciousness - so it's back on track with goal setting, healthy eating and workin' it out (this will start right after Halloween on Saturday)! ;)

Thankfully, this back on track thing is happening in the Fall, which is my favorite time of the year for cooking.  I feel I can be a little more creative when I'm cooking indoors.  Summer tends to be 99% grill cooking which by now at the end of the season, grilling has become a little boring to me.  If you haven't followed by blog before, some of my favorite recipes I have shared I have created on a whim with food I have in the house and the meals always (ok, usually) come out great. That being said, I LOVE crock pot cooking and creating healthy recipes.  Even baking but modifying the goodies to be healthy but still delish. 

So...that brings me to my next project!  Last night I was browsing Pinterest for some freezer meal ideas and decided that I'm going to create my own crockpot freezer meals menu/tutorial/shopping list etc.  I've had a hard time finding menu's online for bulk freezer meals that I actually like and/or are healthy/made with fresh foods so I figured I'll do it myself.  There is nothing like pulling a meal out of the freezer at night to thaw, throwing it in the crockpot in the morning and doing nothing else but serving it 8 hours later and having it be healthy.  Preparing in bulk not only saves time but can also save money and I love saving both!   Heck, maybe I'll even create this all into an e-book!  I can always use a good Fall/Winter project so why not?! Stay tuned for the shopping list and recipes and savings!  I'll keep your family fed this winter (with your money, not mine) and give you more time with your family and less time preparing! Win win!

In the meantime, if you are looking for some tasty fall recipes, here are a few of my favorites!  Quick and Flavorful Pork Roast , my go to Santa Fe Chicken , and last but not least, one of my first creations that I shared Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup!

Ok, so now you will be fed healthy food...who wants to battle the holiday bulge with me?? (Starting Nov 1 of course - after Halloween).  All this requires is a fitness goal, a plan, motivation and action steps! Let's do it! Eat simply and healthy and have a fitness plan to battle the holiday bulge! Maybe I'm the only one who gets excited about these things, but if you are interested in following along let me know and we will do it together! :)

Stay tuned for some meals soon!  Now, I'm going to go enjoy a peanut butter cup as a mid afternoon snack since I won't be doing that effective a few days from now. ;)

~Erin Leigh

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