Iggly What?  Iggly Biggly!  When my friend called me the other day and asked if I had $20 I really had no idea where this would lead when I answered, “yes.”  And then he asked me if I liked flip flops.  Well, yes I do. In fact, I had a pair on at the time, so again, I answered “yes.” His third question was about money.  “Do you want to make some extra money?”   “Yes I do” was my reply.  And at that point, he told me about Iggly Biggly.

Iggly Biggly is a concept that is custom made for a Freedom Mapmaker.  Do you remember the movie Pay It Forward?  Pay it Forward - The Assignment

Iggly Biggly’s motto is Pay It Forward, World. And here’s how they do it.

The concept centers around Flip Flops.  Not your ordinary flip flops, but flip flops with Bling!  Fancy Flip flops, for men & women…and for those who don’t like or want flip flops, they donate them to Save the Children.

This is a system that supports it’s members ($20 to join)  when they bring in two new members.  Yes, only $20 and only two new members.  Keeping this discussion simple, the ending result is lots of flip flops and money in your pocket!

You can keep the flip-flops and/or sell them, give them away, donate them - they’re yours and so you can do what you want with them! I plan on taking some of them and donating them to my local area homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters - starting in my community first and branching out.

So, to sum it up…$20, 2 people, Flip Flop FUN, donations, and Income.  As a  Freedom MapMaker, I didn’t have to think about this beyond about 30 seconds!  Care to join me?  Click Here

Working from home has allowed me to be a stay at home Mom.  I have saved all of our children’s art projects and papers throughout the years.  As our two kids have grown older and gone on to college, I have learned  from their writings.  Our daughter, Lucy, recently wrote an essay on the topic of animal testing for cosmetics.  What I like most about this essay is the alternatives that her essay suggests.  I knew about the problem…I’ve seen labels that clearly state the manufacturer does no animal testing, but I didn’t realize that products were still being tested, but not on animals.

A Freedom Mapmaker looks to live a life that is win-win.  “Harm to none” is always the desired route in any situation.  Sometimes this approach requires charting a new map, different from the path most traveled. This is certainly the case when it comes to the subject of animal testing for cosmetics.  Who ever thought that one up?  How can we possibly justify some of the generally accepted practices that result in pain and suffering for our animal brothers and sisters?

Here, with Lucy’s permission, is her essay:

Animal Testing: Stop the Cruelty

If you knew that the products that you used every day had been tested on animals, had blinded them, or even killed them, would you continue to use these products? Each year, millions of helpless animals suffer and die in these painful tests administered by cosmetic companies. As humans, we have the ability, and the responsibility, to stand up against the inhumane treatment of animals that are being used to test our cosmetic products.  The American public should discontinue the use of products by companies that support the inhumane testing and treatment of animals.

Animal testing kills innocent, defenseless animals that cannot fight for their own life. One day they are happy; innocently eating, drinking, and playing, and the next day they are defenseless; in the hands of a human monster. The life of laboratory animals consists of deprivation, isolation, and misery. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, known as PETA, animals are routinely cut open, poisoned and forced to live in steel cages for years. Rats and mice are denied a place to dig and hide; dogs and cats are deprived of exercise, and rabbits have no room to leap.  Video footage from inside laboratories shows that animals cower in fear every time someone walks by their cages.

There are numerous cruel tests done on animals in cosmetic testing laboratories. Acute toxicity tests are used to show how toxic a certain product is, and the amount required to cause death. Animals are force fed high doses of products, such as toothpaste, or cologne, and are forced to inhale the product. The animals given the highest doses have convulsions, seizures, paralysis, and bleed through the nose and mouth, before they ultimately die. Draize eye-and-skin irritancy tests place rabbits in full body restraints while the product, such as mascara, or shaving cream is dripped or smeared into their eyes; their eyes are clipped open and they are not given any anesthesia. “After placing the substance in the rabbits’ eyes, laboratory technicians record the damage to the eye tissue at specific intervals over an average period of 72 hours, with tests sometimes lasting 7 to 18 days. Reactions to the substances include swollen eyelids, inflamed irises, ulceration, bleeding, massive deterioration, and blindness” (People…2000).  Animals may break their necks as they struggle to escape. These tests are often administered with the use of the LD50 test, which means the animals are given doses of the product until half of the test group dies. A report released by Animal Aid concluded that “toxicity testing on animals is exceedingly unreliable at predicting human toxicity, that it’s an extreme form of deliberately inflicted animal suffering and that the adoption of advanced non-animal methodologies should be an absolute priority” (Cosmetics…34).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require animal testing for cosmetics, and alternative testing methods are widely available and lead to more reliable results. Companies such as ABBA, Almay, Avon, Bare Escentuals, The Body Shop, Bumble and Bumble, Burt’s Bees, Clinique, Crabtree and Evelyn, Kiss my Face, M.A.C, Nivea, Norelco, Revlon, and many others, “do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and they pledge not to do so in the future.” (Companies…2006)

There are many different types of product testing methods that are inexpensive, accurate, and cruelty-free.  The test method called “eyrtix” is done instead of the draize eye test; A vegetable protein from the jack bean mimics an eye’s reaction to a chemical- Avon uses this method.  A method known as “Epipac” uses cloned human tissue to test potentially harmful products. A software program called “TOPKAT” measures factors such as toxicity, and is used by the U.S. Army, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration.

There are many actions that can be taken to get the message out there, to make a difference and save innocent furry critters. It’s fairly simple! The American public should stop buying products that test on animals. This is one of the most important steps that can be taken. There is a pamphlet from PETA that lists companies that do not animal test- it is a business card size pamphlet, which makes it easy to carry around and pull out when shopping. This will truly help support the cause, and every time you go to use shampoo, toothpaste, face wash, or any other cosmetic products, you will know that the products were never responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent animals.

Ghandi once said: “To my mind the life of the lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of the lamb for the sake of the human body. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man” (Stevens, 2006).  Next time that you take a shower, and get ready in the morning, I hope that you will remember this information, and think about how that product got into your hands. And hopefully, after knowing all about animal testing, next time you go to the store, you will look at the label, and choose to buy products that proudly do not test on animals.

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Residual Income is one of the greatest financial creations of all time.  Just look at Elvis.  He’s no longer with us (or is he?) and yet he is still earning residual income! With residual income you are paid today AND tomorrow for work you do today.  Also known as passive income, this is the ideal formula for a Freedom Mapmaker.  Free from the concerns of trading time for dollars each day, the Mapmaker is free to pursue dreams.

There are several common methods of creating residual income.  One is purchasing houses or apartment buildings and collecting rent.  Another is collecting royalties for books or music you’ve written.  Some people make financial investments that pay them regular dividends.  My residual income of choice has always been network marketing, because it doesn’t require a large financial investment and anyone with a strong desire and a willingness to grow can succeed. I continue to receive checks for work I did over 10 years ago!

If you are currently a network marketer, a small business owner, or are thinking about either of these two options, you’ll be interested to know there is a new business toolbox that’s just about to be released.  It’s called BizPack and it offers some remarkable tools that will make life much easier for you.  It includes a bundle of services that are on the cutting edge of technology. One of the features that I’m really excited about has the ability to identify hundreds of dollars in small business tax deductions. What’s not to love about that?  Freedom Mapmakers love increased cash flow!  Some of the other features include web meeting services through GoToMeeting/GoToWebinar and training on internet optimization and marketing.

You may be wondering what this has to do with residual income.  BizPack is being offered by independent agents (like me!) and is a true ground floor opportunity that includes residual income for anyone willing to go to work. BizPack is the newest release by the well established, award winning company United First Financial.

If you are looking for a way to create residual income, look no further!  Be the Freedom Mapmaker you were meant to be.

Freedom Mapmakers enjoy good health and have energy to spare! For many many years now, in fact it’s been 27 years, my breakfast of choice has been a smoothie.  A smoothie is nutritious, delicious, and quick to make.  Clean up is a snap, too!

A smoothie can be ice cold in the summer and room temp in the winter; at any temperature a smoothie provides a nearly instant and long lasting boost of energy.  Smoothies can facilitate weight management as well, for they make an excellent meal replacement.  You can use fresh or frozen fruit or no fruit at all!

Because I work at home, I have smoothie ingredients and equipment always available.  And if I’m going out for the day, I always have a smoothie before I go.

I am often asked what I put in my smoothies.  This has changed somewhat through the years, although there have been some constants, like bananas and spirulina powder.  In addition to spirulina, my current recipe includes maca powder, undenatured whey protein, a mild vanilla flavored rice protein, chia gel, and water.  When the weather warms up I add frozen berries. Please be forewarned: this is not a pink “fru-fru” drink…it’s green from the spirulina.  If you close your eyes when you drink, you’ll never know it’s not pink!

Smoothie Recipe

1 banana, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup frozen berries, optional

1 cup  purified water

1 scoop rice protein

1 tsp maca powder

1 tsp spirulina

3 TB chia gel

Place ingredients in blender or immersion blender cup.  Blend well.

Add one scoop (10 g) undenatured whey protein and blend for 1-2 seconds only.

Enjoy!

Do you know what a Chorkie is?  As I type, I have one curled up beside me keeping warm in a fleece blanket.  This particular chorkie is named Layla and she belongs to our daughter, Lucy.  Because we work at home, we are her dog-sitters when Lucy travels.  Layla is the sweetest creature; a small bundle bursting with life energy! A chorkie is a small dog - a mixed breed of chihuahua and yorkshire terrier.

I’ve never been a small dog person.  I’m more of the yellow lab, golden retriever type.  But there’s something about Layla that has encouraged me to make new maps in my mind about what makes a dog great!.  I now know that chorkies are just as loyal as labs.  And just as affectionate.  And certainly as cute, if not more adorable!  In fact, you can take a chorkie with you anywhere!  She fits into a purse, and everywhere I go with Layla, people smile and want to connect with her.  She cuddles up on my lap and sleeps.  She jumps in the air and spins for her treats.  She sleeps burrowed under the covers.  She can walk on her two hind feet and she can walk on her two front feet with her hind feet up in the air.  I’ve never seen a lab do that! It is a little strange putting clothes on her to keep her warm, but she’s so small it’s a necessity in cold weather.

Layla is three years old today.  What does she want for her birthday?  It’s quite obvious - she wants Lucy to come back!  We’ll be bringing Layla to the airport tonight when we pick up Lucy.  We’ll all be glad to see Lucy, but sad to see Layla go.  We’ll miss her little head popping out from the covers in the morning!

There are many types of debt that people are faced with today, including  mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and student loans.  One of the most troubling is student loans.  Young people just out of college or graduate school begin their careers with a sometimes daunting amount of money to be repaid before they can begin to save, buy a home or build wealth.  People of all ages are returning to college to begin a new career out of necessity. One of the most often asked questions is, “should I consolidate student loans?”  The answer sought here is, what is the smartest and fastest way to free myself from the burden of this debt.

The answer depends completely on each student’s situation.  Some of the factors that need to be considered include current income, other debt and discretionary income.  If there is other debt, such as credit card debt or an auto loan, what are the terms of those loans?  The student may also have a mortgage, and that must be taken into consideration as well.

Sometimes the desire to consolidate student loans is an emotional one.  The student may think this is the best thing to do, because the desire is strong to eliminate the student loan as quickly as possible.  But sometimes, once all factors are considered, this may not be the best choice.  So how does one proceed?  To whom do you listen?

Recently a web-based software came on the scene that will evaluate all options for paying off student loans from a mathematical point of view.   A free analysis is available to assist you in the decision of whether or not consolidation is the best choice for you.   All of your expenses and your income are factored into the analysis to assist you in making an educated decision.

Many times the analysis will provide a path to follow to pay off the student loans ( and other loans too) in as little as 1/3 to 1/2 the time!

Work from home opportunites are being sought out in today’s financial climate at a quickening pace.  As more and more people are being laid off from their jobs, the need has rarely been greater to chart new maps to Freedom. You don’t have to look far beyond your email inbox to learn about work from home opportunities that are available.  And if work form home opportunities aren’t flooding your inbox, you can find many by doing a simple Google search.  The question is…which work at home opportunities are legitimate, and which ones aren’t?

There are many factors to consider.  For example, how long has the company been in business?  Are they debt free? Who are the Founders?  Who is the competition?  Is the product and/or service unique in the marketplace?  Is it as timely, for example, as The Money Merge Account System is in today’s financial climate?  Is it a product or service you would use yourself?  What are the start-up costs? What type of training does the company offer? What is the compensation plan? Will you be well paid for your efforts?

As one who has had success with work at home opportunities over the past 22 years, I know that there are great opportunities that come along and there are not so great opportunities that come along too.  Sometimes it’s easy to be swayed by the sizzle, but upon taking a deeper look, it may not be as good of a work from home opportunity as it first appeared.  Freedom Mapmakers do their due diligence.

After a thorough investigation, I find that United First Financial meets the criteria of a very timely work from home opportunity.

I am a Mapmaker.  Some of my best friends are Mapmakers.  Not in the usual sense of the word…I don’t surround myself with cartographers or the like; but I enjoy being with people who thrive on discovery and charting new territories of the heart and mind.

The truth is, we are traveling through the unknown.  We think we know what’s going to happen and we feel some safety and security in that.  We are doing our best to navigate through what is happening right now and what we think is coming next.  While it used to be a sense of freedom came from a feeling of financial security, that is now a slippery slope.  Sometimes it’s up and sometimes it’s down. In these times in which we find ourselves we need new maps!  We need a new formula for freedom.

Freedom does not come from an external source.  Freedom Mapmakers know that Freedom lies within and is experienced in the moment. Take a deep breath and feel the freedom that brings.  Take another deep breath and envision the map you’d like for your future.

My morning habits changed about two months ago.  It used to be that I’d enjoy my morning cup of coffee while reading the morning paper.  And then I’d check my emails.  As a self-employed, work at home person, I was a creature of habit, wandering through the morning undirected and at the effect of whatever I  read that morning.

Something shifted in me while reading  The Answer, by John Assaref and Murray Smith.  Although I’ve read many inspirational books and taken many courses that have enhanced my life, I found the simple changes I made to my morning routine have turned me into a creature with a much more nurturing and fulfilling habit.

I no longer read the paper in the morning.  I sit in meditation instead, feeling appreciation and listening.  I focus on what it is that I want and from an emotional place I see it happening.

Quite often I notice I am smiling! Reading my affirmations comes next, followed by reading pages in any book that will further my growth and understanding. Now that’s the way to start the day!

This is my morning route to Freedom.  Rather than digesting first thing in the morning whatever default flavor the media wants to serve me, I am free to choose the flavor I want.

Starting my day as a deliberate creator…that’s for me!

I meet every Friday morning with 4 other women in an empowerment group for United First Financial.  We are independent agents and our purpose is to support each other to grow beyond ourselves so we may reach out fearlessly to assist others to get out of debt.  If Ufirst is something you’ve not heard about yet, information can be found at FlowYourMoney. This week’s theme is listening and we are to notice during the week experiences around listening.

Yesterday I spent the morning in San Francisco at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.  Our son, Bryan Heckenlively, was participating in a Mock Trial Competition.  Bryan is a third year law student at the UC Berkeley School of Law.  The courthouse is an amazing building with mosaic tile floors and gorgeous marble everywhere.  So here we are sitting in the courtroom and the judge, fully robed, sits before us.  Although we know this is a mock trial, it all seems very real.  They are trying a real case, and the students are dressed in suits; so prepared they don’t need notes.

A courtroom is a perfect place to study the benefits of listening.  Asking, and then listening for the response.  During the examination of a witness listening is critically important!  Although the attorney has a direction in mind of where she wants the flow of the questioning to go, she has to listen for clues that will guide her towards the points she wants to make.  She cannot be so locked in to her prepared line of questioning that she cannot seize an opportunity that may present itself.

I noticed that the attorney would ask a question of the witness and after the witness answered, the attorney would say, “Tell me more about that.”  Hmmm.  A line of questioning! Not just one question, but many.  And the answers that follow will help guide the direction of the line of questioning.

Where does freedom fit in with this?  If I focus on the other person I am free from my own fears and worries.  My ego has released it’s stronghold! I truly am free to be of service as I assist another to make their own discoveries.  And it is through the release of long held beliefs about money that my future clients will open their minds to educate themselves about another way to get out of debt and begin to build wealth.  And all I need to do is ask questions?