One for One

How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet?

If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably have a pair to go with your favorite jeans or dress, along with a range of comfy shoes, sexy shoes, working shoes, walking shoes…you name it.  I’d bet you have several pairs that you can choose from to fit your mood.

What about your kids? Do they have shoes for every occasion?

Soccer cleats, football cleats, dance shoes, tennis shoes, sandals, winter boots, slippers…the list goes on and on – but all of them are essential!

What if you could not provide shoes for your children?  Would they be able to go to school?

I was recently made aware of an amazing company called Toms Shoes.  You may have heard of them or seen their ads on TV, but the TV ads don’t really do justice to the impact that going without shoes has on kids around the world, and how Blake Mycoskie is out to change the lives of children, one pair of shoes at a time.

Toms Shoes was founded by Blake Mycoskie in 2006.  His idea for Toms Shoes came about when he was in Argentina learning how to play polo, which he himself has been quoted as calling, ”The least noble cause in the world for me to go to Argentina, which goes to show you never know what is going to happen in your life.’

While on that trip, Blake observed the polo players slipping out of their boots into shoes called Alpargatas.  The Alpargata are traditional Argentine shoes that have been worn by the Argentines for hundreds of years.  That shoe was the basis for the Toms Shoe design.

Blake had zero experience in fashion or shoes, to which he says, “I think sometimes when you don’t have experience, you don’t know the rules; you don’t know which ones you are breaking and you end up creating true innovation.”

The name Toms Shoes actually started out as Tomorrows Shoes.  It was shortened because Tomorrows Shoes was too long for the logo tags found on the side of the shoes.

The best part is – Blake was determined to donate a new pair of shoes for every pair purchased.  One for One.  How amazing is that!

For each pair of Toms Shoes that is purchased, a pair is given to a child who does not have shoes. Blake and his team focus on three criteria for gifting the shoes:

1. Does it help a child go to school? In some places, if you don’t have shoes, you can’t go to school.
2. Does it prevent a specific disease? For example, the disease Podoconiosis (Podo) is found in Ethiopia.  Podo is caused by silica that goes through the pores to destroy the lymphatic system. Not only is it incredibly debilitating, it ostracizes people from their community.  Podo is completely preventable with shoes!
3. Does it promote general hygiene? In areas where children walk on unpaved roads, there is a higher risk of scrapes, cuts and abrasions – all of which eventually lead to disease and infection.

Toms Shoes also has a focus on sustainability.  One of their collections is 65% post-consumer plastic bottles and 35% hemp, which is more sustainable than using organic cotton.

So while you are counting your blessings, making entries in your gratitude journals and hunting down that missing shoe in your kids’ room, take a moment and remember to give thanks and appreciation for the shoes you have on your feet.  There are many children who are not wearing any.

If Blake Mycoskie has his way (and I am sure he will – with your help and the help of many others) children all over the world will be able to experience the pleasure of having a new pair of shoes.

And what a great Christmas gift – for yourself or a loved one! My personal fav is the Heller TOMS.  No surprise there – with the Peace sign right on the toe! I just picked up a new pair and I can hardly wait for their arrival.  And even better than my eager anticipation of my new shoes is the smile and joy that I know the new pair of shoes will bring to a child across the globe.

One for One shoes – magnificent indeed.

To learn more about Toms Shoes, be sure to check out their website HERE.

Just one more thought…

Everyone wants to teach their kids about the joys of giving…what better way than to find something like Toms Shoes to put on their list to Santa? What are some of your creative ideas for involving your kids in the holiday spirit of charity and goodwill to their fellow man (or fellow kids!)?

What's Your Wish?

For the past nine years, I have been a mother, business woman and executive at a Fortune 100 Company. As a Coach and Energy Worker who is at the forefront of spiritual training, it is my passion and my purpose to discover and introduce programs that will enrich and bless your parenting life.

Today, I want to ask you a few questions and then tell you a personal story…

• Have you ever wished parenting could be easier?
• Have you ever thought, “There has got to be a better way!”?
• Have you ever wished LIFE could be easier?
• Have you ever wondered – as I did – why some people always seemed to have that golden touch – always being in the right place at the right time – something it seemed would never happen to you?

Nine years ago, I felt the same way.  My marriage was ending, my father had just been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, I had a newborn, and I was making a career move! Against all odds and conventional wisdom, I doubled my income in less than one year.  In less than 2 years, I was elevated to an executive position at a Fortune 100 company.

People were surprised at what I accomplished; they even congratulated me.

But I didn’t have the energy to congratulate myself. I was just exhausted – and I couldn’t imagine how in the world I would manage another year of the same. It was just not possible. All I wished for was an end to what seemed like constant chaos.

In hindsight, I know I did lots of things the hard way. I worked late nights and weekends – and I felt guilty ALL the time. When I was with my family I felt guilty for not working and – yep, you guessed it – when I was working I felt guilty for not being with my family!

On more than one occasion, I was ready to give up. I knew I couldn’t continue much longer at the same frenzied and chaotic pace. Then, it dawned on me!

I realized I needed to apply the same process to my personal, professional life and business that I had successfully used with my clients to help them overcome personal challenges and explore pioneering solutions for their problems.

And it WORKED!

It worked so quickly, so silently and so smoothly, that I wasn’t sure at first that it was working at all!  But the results spoke for themselves.  It was a powerful domino effect!

In fact, there was no denying the results. I applied a systematic, highly successful method to my life as a parent that I came to know, if shared, would without a doubt transform the lives of millions more parents globally – it was that big.

This whole system – The Magnetism of the Awakening Parent – is about creating what I call an AWAKENING REVOLUTION.  I’m not talking about the violence typically associated with revolutions. I’m talking about a nonviolent, peaceful effective revolution that allows you to reinvent yourself from the inside out.

So many parents have come to me, telling me that they are sick and tired of trying to do it all. No matter what they do, they can’t seem to maintain thriving personal and professional lives – finding the right balance between being the best parent to their kids, actually enjoying their work, and truly living the life of their dreams seems so completely out of reach that most people don’t even consider it as a possibility.

The truth is, having all of that doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. You can bring transformation from the chaos, stress, and trouble you may be experiencing on a daily basis along with so many parents – and a big part of doing that is bringing a powerful, synchronistic, inner and an outer approach to everything you do. That’s the Magnetism of the Awakening Parent!

As the founder of the Blissful Transformation of the Chaotic Family programs, I am here to support you to accomplish your goals with more ease and flow by tapping into The Magnetism of the Awakening Parent.

I have been called to make an individual contribution to your empowerment. I am driven by my passions to continue to make a difference in the world … in your world. I know from firsthand experience what it’s like to want so badly to do the best for your kids, and feel like you’re falling short every time. I want you to experience the peace and true bliss that IS possible in your family life – and I’d like to give you the opportunity to find out how as a special gift to you today.

This Thursday, October 29th, at 6:00 pm., PDT/9:00 pm., EDT, I will be hosting a one-hour FREE call to offer you practical pointers and tangible, easy to implement How To steps in bringing blissful transformation into your life.

I invite you to join me on this special call – to sit back, relax, and soak in the love and support that will be there for you, along with tools you can begin using right away to transform your experience from the inside out. Visit here today to find out more about this call and how you can join in.

Molly Kite Has Faith

As a spiritual parenting coach, it’s always exciting to me to join with others who are so on board with the idea that kids can be brought up in full understanding of universal principles like the Laws of Attraction, freeing them in so many ways to grow up in the knowing of the birthright that each and every one of us were born with.

That’s why I am thrilled to share this with you today – my colleague, Tam Veilleaux, has written a children’s book I know you’ll love! She’s experienced the same vision that Law of Attraction for kids is really needed in this world, and the first Molly Kite & Co. book (written with that very intention in mind) is now available to you.

You can visit here today to pre-order your copy of the online interactive book, the paperback, or both!

Molly Kite Has Faith, written by Tam Veilleaux and illustrated by Russ Cox, is a fun and interactive story that will help bring your kids right into understanding of how to recognize unspoken energies at a young age – something that will assist them in getting into the flow of life always.

As the story goes, when Molly Kite dreams of being a potter but doesn’t know the first thing about forming clay, she decides there is only one thing she can do. Learn how seven year old Molly Kite and her constant companion, Faith, use Law of Attraction to achieve Molly’s dream in short time.

Universal Law affects each of us every day, whether we believe it or not. In this very knowing, Molly Kite is a leader for today’s youth. She is someone your children can emulate. Respectful and happy, the freckled face main character is someone you’d be proud to call your own.

Join free-spirited seven year old Molly Kite, brother Banjo, pet raven Johnny Poe, Nana Whacky and other characters as she expands her consciousness through her daily routines. Molly Kite and a cast of fun, insightful characters (including her ever-present doll, Faith) will introduce Universal themes like:

• What goes around comes around
• What you think about expands
• What you resists persists
• The power & importance of being in nature
• And many more!

Watch as your child learns the personal power of directing their thoughts and having faith.

Available October 11 as an interactive book and as a paperback, the Molly Kite & Co. team is now taking pre-orders, which means you can be among the first to own a copy of Molly Kite Has Faith.

The holidays are right around the corner; pick one up as a gift for someone special. Not only will your child benefit, but so do you, the caregiver! Choose from as many as ten different FREE BONUSES offered by friends of Molly Kite. Ebooks, audios and special reports on a variety of topics are yours at no cost when you order Molly Kite Has Faith.

Our future is a bright place when left in the hands of enlightened kids! Go now, get your copy!

Sale Prices: Online book $12.99, Paperback book $12.99, or BOTH for $21.99