A year ago I became an Independant Consultant for a beauty, health and wellbeing company called Arbonne.
I was having a very hard time, having lost my job and direction in life. I can honestly say that being involved in the business and using the products has helped me greatly. Having hit rock bottom my skin was grey and lifeless, thin and sad hair and yoyo weight issues due to depression, eating disorders and medication.
The first product I used was the RE9 anti-aging skin collection, cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, moisturiser and night cream. I laughed when I read ‘shows visable difference within 24 hours’ , but it really does and a year later my skin is better than ever and shows no signs of the trauma I have been through.
I swear by the Intelligence thermal fusion hair & scalp revitaliser, when used in conjunction with the FC5 shampoo and conditioner. It has helped boost the growth and texture of my hair so it now looks quite ‘normal’. My Mother uses it, after years of back combing and bleaching her hair is now soft, shiney and better than ever. It has also helped my Aunt after Chemotherapy to boost the regrowth.
As a self confessed ice cream addict I generally have one of the chocolate protein shakes, blended with lots of ice and cold water everyday. There is the minimum of sugar but all of the vitamins and protein that I need for the day, so much better than a carton of Ben & Jerrys.
Also living in a sun starved country, we are all deficient in vitamin D so I get mine from the Vitamin D with B12 spray, just three sprays on the tongue every morning and I’m done ( it tastes yummy too).
All of this and more from a range of products that are pure, safe and beneficial. Arbonne products are botanical, vegan certified and green in substance and packaging. In this age of free radicals and harmful chemicals I feel confident that I am not doing myself, family or friends harm by reccommending Arbonne.
Please feel free to contact me directly or check my Arbonne page http://leciafinch.arbonne.com/ I am happy to answer any questions or meet you for a consultation. Maybe you might want to join me in the business!
Tag Archives: Passion
# 21 It’s all about me !
Enough of the doom & gloom that fills most of my time, here is a little something pleasing and uplifting and surprisingly it’s all about me !
It’s a piece written by my accounts and business advisors, I hope you find it as inspiring as I did!
As you can tell from my previous blogs I am as far from an ego maniac as you can get, it’s really interesting to read how other people view you and what you do. This has inspired me to get up and get on with making my business even more of a wonderful, mindful place for like minded people to shop.
#20 Trying to make a living.
I live a pretty simple life, despite my ‘job’ I’m not a materialistic person, I just cater for those who maybe.
It is taking time to understand and accept the ‘me’ that is left. I am still recovering after the bullying, death, shock unemployment and acute depression that I have been subjected to in the last few years. My boyfriend admires me for my independence and strength, but I don’t have the energy to be strong anymore, I’m tired. My friends don’t understand when I say I am a different person now, they say everybody is and that we all change as we get older. Why can they not see that this is not an age thing this is a circumstance and experience thing? The whole age thing makes me angry, I don’t feel any older, in many ways I feel like a frightened child.
Despite all of this mental turmoil, that only I can eradicate, I am not dragging my heels, I have to live somehow!
Whilst updating my CV, a document that had not been touched for eighteen years, I realised that I am sitting on a wealth of experience. I have all of the tools, contacts and knowledge to set up an immediate business, seamlessly.
I have taken some really hard knocks in the not so distant past but I am not going to let it pin me down, I can’t I have a life to live. I have set up in two businesses, skincare and wellbeing in the shape of :
Leciafinch.arbonneinternational.co.uk
and my designer hats, fashion accessories and lifestyle gifts webshop :
I am still healing and some days are really hard, not helped by those that do not understand that I do not need a little part time job to get me out of the house, I have businesses to run, that’s a full time job! I am just lucky to have the luxury to be able to work around my mental health issues. But being able to do that with support and understanding, for the new and different me, would be nice.
#18 Time flies.
It is so true that time flies when you are having fun!
So it’s now been a month since I welcomed you into my world with my fledgling web shop http://www.hatattic.com #hats #scarves #bags #jewellery #gifts #nailpolish.
I am still coming to terms with the fact that I am a business woman and in charge of my own destiny. It’s very strange not having to check in with anyone, travel to an office or get dressed even!
The fact is I am a very logically minded, organised kind of girl and I am actually awake at 7am and up & dressed ready for work by 10am.Yes I am lucky, I have the luxury of not having to rush through my yoga & meditation and I have time to read or listen to something inspirational before I put my business hat on. But it’s weird I still put the pressure on myself and feel guilty if I’m not working on Hat Attic or Arbonne between the hours of 10am and 6pm.
I do count myself as being very lucky indeed though as I can have my business and have some ‘time’ to make myself a better more informed person.I can study, visit museums & exhibitions, meet and actually have time to talk to friends and family. I am not as stressed and grumpy as I have been in the recent past.
I have learnt to live and love life all over again.
# 15 Fear
I think it is true to say that fear makes you more determined.
After weeks and months in the planning we edge nearer to the launch of my very own baby http://www.hatattic.com
Reality comes crashing in with each delivery and yesterday signing and sealing our storage depot has made it even more real.
Whilst I know you are going to love what I have in store for you there is still a feeling of anticipation, nerves, what ifs ?????
But seriously after all these years(18 to be exact) of buying and working for someone else, now is my time.After all the heartache and drama of the last few years I am ready, my life is just starting, this is what it has all been about, what all the training was for.
I am not going to lie, ten months ago I was terrified for my life.Fear was my buzz word.What was I going to do, no job, no money, at my lowest ebb.
Stupidly I didn’t have a plan B, I’m not qualified for anything but retail and buying, who was going to want me? Did I trust anyone enough to dedicate my working life to?
The answer is no.
I was going to have to do it for myself and I am more than qualified for that.
But with a mixture of therapy, soul searching, the best friends & family a girl could ask for, meditation, yoga, sheer determination and time,I’m ready.
Coming to a computer near you very soon :-
You will not want to go anywhere else for your hats, fashion accessories and gifts and you won’t have to.The most beautiful, must have,exciting things will be at the end of your fingertips.x
#9 Colour
I know it will come as a surprise to most people but I love colour.
I would not be able to do my job if I didn’t.
All of my life I have been wrongly pigeon holed as a ‘Goth’ mainly for the fact that I have dark hair,very pale skin and wear mostly black.
I love the natural contast of my colouring and there are many reasons for wearing black,I am not alone with this.
A. I like it.
B. It suits me.
C. It looks chic for any occasion.
D.It makes you look thinner!
E. I have a confidence problem
In my mind, I can just blend into the background and get on with my life unhindered.
Despite all of this,I am obsessed with colour.
I love to watch the seasons colour change in the trees opposite my flat.
I have seen some amazing sunrises when I have woken early and looked across and out of the window.
Gorgeous pink,orange and yellow skies with the sun rising proudly,from my view right behind my Buddhas head.
I love white rooms,think of the beautiful house in John & Yokos Imagine video.
Think about the amazing use of colour in animal skins,Zebras,Tigers,Leopards I could watch them for hours (I also am a bit fussy about the skin actually being on the animal never anywhere else).
I think this is the key to me being able to thrive in my chosen career of buying.
I have always loved creating a mood with colours,holding my collections together with it.
I love clashing colour,something quite muted with a flash of fluoresent,pink with orange,blue with green,a pastel with a shot of hot.
So bearing this in mind expect from http://www.hatattic.com lots of colour.I would never expect anybody to go out wearing every colour of the rainbow in one go,I would very much dissuade it!But Fashion Accessories are perfect colour vehicles.What could be nicer than a beautiful juicy orange cashmere scarf (@travelwrap)with a black coat,or a fluoresent pink,orange and yellow feather hat?@piersatkinson.
I think this is one reason why Piers and I work so well together,he always puts together such beautiful colour ways,wait until you see our summer hat plans!
Carol Anne Scowcrofts Chimeeras have a stunning way with colour,that is what drew me to them.
Colour makes me happy,it has strength and power.I am inspired by people who use it well.
# 8 Freedom
I have worked in Retail since I was fourteen.I had after school and Saturday jobs in local shops.My first full time position (at 18) was as an Assistant Manager in a Fulham Road flagship,after a couple of years I was made manager.I eventually made it to being a concession manager in a London department store via a disastrous year in a Knightsbridge Ladies shop-working on commission with snobby older women was never my bag!
Working in my concession gave me experience and knowledge of working with handbags and other fashion accessories.I loved it!
After a year or so I applied for a Buyers Clerk position,I had to really beg for this as I had no office experience at all,but I felt I had done my frontline time.
I am good with figures and learn fast so within a year my Buyer who obviously saw potential in me asked me to be her Assistant Buyer.
This was a major opportunity and I will always be grateful to Miss Debbie Christopher who has influenced and inspired me to be the person I am today.I had the pleasure to work with and learn from Debbie for seventeen years.Going from the shopfloor to Clerk,Assistant Buyer,then eventually Buyer,of many product departments.
-Hats ( my baby)
-Sunglasses
-Scarves
-Clothing
-Jewellery
-Hair Accessories
-Hosiery
-Gifts
-Home
-Christmas
-Books
-Baby Shop
-Childrens’ Wear
-Toys
-Stationary
-Cards & Wrap
Buying is not just being a glorified shopper you have to understand accounting,merchandising and visual merchandising among many other things.You have to have vision to put together a comprehensive department not just of things that you like but what you know your Customer will like,you have to know your Customer!
I believe that my Career in Retail has made me more than qualified to embark on my new venture,my own business.
In eight weeks time I will be launching my very own Webshop,bringing together everything I have learned in my seventeen years with Debbie Christopher.
I give you http://www.hatattic.com
You will find gorgeous designer Millinery,exclusive Scarves and Hats,Books,Gifts,Childrens bits and Jewellery,anything I think you will like.
Please register on http://www.hatattic.com so I can keep you up to date.
# 6 A passion for Fashion
This week I went to the simply amazing Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at The Barbican for the second time.The level of genius in the one exhibition is incredible,are these people just attracted to one another?Jean Paul,Pierre & Giles,Madonna,Grace Jones,Stephen Jones to name but a few.As I wandered around I wanted to touch everything,try everything on, be part of it.It is not the first time I have felt like this, the Vivienne Westwood a few years back at the Victoria & Albert had me licking display cases, Viktor & Rolfs dolls house,the current Wedding Dresses at the V & A made me want to actually get married as long as I could wear one of John Gallianos creations.
I can sew and I’ve always loved clothes but I’m not a fashion designer,I just love the ‘vibe’ of these exhibitions.The creative energy crackles in the air and inspires me to be the best I can be in my own way.That is why I am a buyer of weird and wonderful things,hats,accessories,gifts,jewellery.
You will have the opportunity to sample my creativity very soon 10 weeks time infact when my webshop opens.
Please look out for http://www.hatattic.com ,it’s going to be fabulous darling.x
thehatlady1 