Why I Joined ItWorks

I can't imagine being one of my friends/social media followers/blog readers and watching this girl go from a somewhat confused 25-year-old blogger/teacher/fit mother to this giddy, somewhat obnoxiously hyper, still 25-year-old ItWorks Distributor.

It's a lot to process, and I'm aware that I was already a little "much" for some people, and now I am most definitely too much for some people.

I am perfectly okay with that. Below I have listed the five main reasons why I decide to join It Works! Global as a distributor.

1. I am a product of the products, and they work. From Thermofit to Greens to skincare, I've tried so much of what this business has to offer, and I've loved my results. And yes--gasp!-- I've even been doing the wraps! I lost three inches off my waist with four skinny wraps! This, above all, was the most important reason for me. If you're going to sell a product, try it first. Or at least be willing to try as much as you can as soon as you can when you begin selling. I lost nearly twenty pounds with the products last summer and have continued using them to lose more and keep my weight in check!

2. The company is Christian-founded and adamantly upholds that foundation. Trust me, I did my research on Mark Pentecost before agreeing to let him be the boss I may never get to meet. He was a high school coach and teacher, just like me, but he needed another way to provide for his family because teaching just wasn't cutting it (and this was in the nineties). After several years dabbling in sales, he and his wife founded It Works! Global. I love how the company highlights the importance of giving back locally and globally through the It Works! Give Back Foundation.

3. The company is debt free. How many businesses can say that? I would eventually like to make this my full-time income, and although direct sales can change in an instant, one form of job security definitely comes from knowing that our company is free of debt!

4. I want to become financially free. Ahhhh... Don't we all? Eric and I have so much unnecessary debt that I'm hoping to pay off for us with my earnings from It Works! I understand that there are things that come along that we really can't help. (What twenty-one-year-old could have bought a home without a mortgage??) But the unnecessary things: credit cards, small loans, vehicle notes... I hope for those to be things of the past within the next few years. I also hope Eric and I can stop deferring student loans and pay those off quickly as well.

5. It's FUN. It really is! I am having so much fun talking to others about what I'm doing and how they can be a part of it too. And I've made some pretty amazing friends so far! I seriously wouldn't trade what I'm doing now for anything. It Works! has given me a new spark for life that can't be concealed. It's good to feel good again :)

I LOVE being a part of this business, and I can't wait to see where I'm at in the company in a year. If you've been thinking about joining, feel free to talk to me! If you're unfamiliar with ItWorks! Global but would like to learn more, email me at keepingpacekate@gmail.com. I would love to tell you more!

My First Dream Board Party!

The day after I joined ItWorks! Global, I got an email about a New Year's party at the home of one of the distributors. She's a Diamond level distributor (I think!) and ItWorks is her full time job. I didn't know anyone who was attending, but I knew I had to go.

This is your opportunity to meet some of these amazing women, I told myself. I do well in environments where I don't know many people, but it was still intimidating not knowing anyone. Literally. Even my upline, Chelsie, I'd never met in person!

I walked in carrying three Mississippi Magazines (they turned out to be a major icebreaker later--score!) and for about five minutes I stood awkwardly in the kitchen, smiling at everyone who looked at me.

Someone please come talk to me! I silently pleaded. People were steadily introducing themselves to me, but for some reason I could not bring myself to say more.

Compliment her shoes!
Tell her you love her sweater!
Yes, Kate, you would freakin' LOVE some champagne! Accept a glass!
You're seriously not going to take the champagne?
Ask her if she got that shirt at Loft: you have the same one!

All of these thoughts ran through my  head, but I was keeping quiet like a little mouse, sipping my champagne in the corner (yes, I finally got a glass) and smiling politely at anyone who looked my way.

Finally, I went and sat down in a chair next to a sweet lady who introduced herself as Priscilla. I'd noticed she wasn't chatting with anyone either, so I took that as my opportunity to get my mouth moving. She told me she'd been with the company for a few months but had a little trouble opening up to people and talking to people she didn't know.

She then asked me for pointers.

GIRL, LET ME SHOW YOU MY WAYS.

And that was all it took to get me going. From then on, I made a point to say hello everyone I could. My upline, Chelsie, came in a little while later, and it was so nice to finally meet her in person! I could tell from our conversations she  was my "type of person," so I loved finally getting to meet! (She's a Triple Diamond, and she is goals).

Kaitlyn, Chelsie, and me

My upline, Chelsie. She is the sweetest person!

Each of the Diamond leaders got to give a little speech with their best advice for new Distributors and those who are working their way up. I'm one of those people who takes advice and runs with it. I was standing there taking mental notes, and I've been applying their advice to the way I do my business. These are women who are my age and are working full-time on their own schedules. They have a passion for this company just like I do, and I can't wait to join their ranks!

Then it was time to make dream boards... Think of it like scrapbooking! We were cutting pictures and quotes out of magazines that inspire us to reach our goals with the company. I'll tell you a little about my Dream Board below!

I'm not entirely artistic, and I'm not entirely finished with my board. I plan to continue adding to it as I reach goals and set new ones. In the top center, you'll see "Help us help Mississippi kids." Guys, I will never stop wanting to give back to my community, my state, to the world. I want this extra income so I can start donating to charity and causes I'm passionate about again.

I have two photos of "dream homes" on the board. I love our simple little home, but we are quickly outgrowing it. It's our dream to build a home of our own, or find the perfect one, perhaps somewhere outside of city limits. Eric has also expressed interest to me in living in Tennessee so that he's closer to work. I want a home big enough for Vaught and our dogs to roam and play.

On the bottom left, you'll see pictures of engagement rings. Not only do those symbolize my dream of going Diamond by the end of 2016, but I also want an engagement ring.

This is where it gets a little personal, and Eric probably won't be thrilled with my sharing this, but it's my blog :) We hit a rough patch financially a few months after having Vaught. It was around Christmas time, and we were literally living paycheck to paycheck. We really needed money one day... For our car insurance, our electric bill, our gas bill. All the bills were piling up, and we were exhausting our outlets for getting money. So, I went to a pawn shop and sold my engagement ring and wedding band.

Yep. Eric didn't ask me to; in fact, I did it and then told him about it, and he was so upset with me. But I did what I thought I needed to do. I loved my rings because Eric picked them out for me himself. I know you don't have to have a ring to show your faith and dedication in your marriage, but I sold that symbol because my family needed money more than a ring on my finger.

Eric understands, and we've talked about it several times. He's promised me that I will get new rings, just like I've promised him that it really doesn't bother me. And it really doesn't. But at the same time, I want that symbol back, I do. So, he's told me that once we're truly stable again, no questions about it, I will get my ring. Hell, he's said he'll propose all over again if I want him to. What a sweet man I have!

With ItWorks, I know that all these goals I have for myself and for my family can be accomplished. We have unnecessary debt that I hope I can eliminate with my commissions and bonuses. It's so important to us that Vaught attend private school, so I hope I can begin saving for his tuition. We have very little back-up savings, so I hope that I can help build us back up. Two years ago, we had at least a couple thousand saved up because we made far more than what we actually needed, but you never know what life is going to throw at you, and I've learned to be okay with it.

I honestly wouldn't trade where I'm at now for anything. I'm learning to appreciate and see the beauty in the struggle, and that's an amazing thing. ItWorks is what I want to do. I want to be with this company because I believe in it. I am a product of the products, and I love the friendships I'm building along the way.

I hope you've all enjoyed getting an inside look at what we crazy wrap ladies really do. And if you wanna know more, you know how to get me :)

Christmas with the Paces:::2015

This was one AMAZING Christmas break! In all honesty, it was exactly what I needed after my first semester teaching 6th grade English. I feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and revived. I went back to work Monday with a happy face and bright smile. No, I don't feel like teaching is the career I'm going to retire from, but I'm focusing on the here and now, and now I've got babies who need me, and I'm going to do my best for them!

Can you tell I've been doing a little bit of yoga and meditation over the break? :)

Unlike other holiday breaks, this one was actually long and enjoyed to the fullest extent. I read a couple new books, took naps, went shopping, sat at Starbucks for hours, took naps, ate good food, took naps... Did I mention I took some naps?

This blog post is about to be a total "photo dump," so get ready! I will try to keep everything in order as best as possible!

Our first family Christmas event was Sunday, December 20th, at my Grandmother Eva's house. This is the gathering for my mom's side of the family. We had so much fun!

 

That Monday, my best friend Jaymo and I went Christmas shopping. We have a new Tanger outlet mall in Southaven, and we had so much fun shopping and exploring. I always love spending time with Jaymo... She's been my best friend since my eleventh grade year of high school.

 

Tuesday, December 22nd, we met up with my older sister for brunch at iHop.



Then Eric and I had to make another trip to the Tanger outlet to return a pair of shoes I'd bought him from the Nike store. They were a size 15 and were too small... Did I mention my husband wears a size 16 shoe?

 

Even though I'd just been over there the day before with Jaymo, I had fun walking around a little more with my husband. We bought a couple more gifts for family, and he gladly held our bags while we explored. What a sweet one I have!

Christmas Eve began with a brunch at Eric's dad and stepmother's house in New Albany, Mississippi. We played Dirty Santa after and had so much fun! I was thrilled to "steal" a plate of fresh fruit during the game!

Vaught met his new cousin Grace and was not a fan!

 

 

We hadn't planned on going to the "Cooper Family Christmas"per travelling arrangements over the holidays, but we ended up in Potts Camp at my Granddaddy's house Christmas Eve night. I'm so glad we went; I enjoyed seeing my dad's side of the family and visiting with everyone.

This photo is my and Audrey Anna's tradition every single year!

We returned home to Olive Branch and woke up Christmas morning so Vaught could "do Santa." He really didn't understand what was going on, but he enjoyed his new car and rocking horse from his grandparents in Virgnia!

We then returned to Potts Camp to my parents' house for our big Christmas Day brunch! We opened presents with them and spent most of the day there.

Eric's mom and stepdad got us new cookware: OMG!

Vaught picked out gifts for my mom and dad at daycare.

I know the photo above probably has you going WTF?! but it's a Christmas tradition my brother started years ago. At some point a long time ago, he discovered that the daddy reindeer can "mount" the mama reindeer, so every year when my  mom pulls these out, he takes them and puts them in a new location (typically somewhere where everyone will see them) and poses them like this. This year she caught him in the act and tried to take the reindeer away, but he got away from her and set them up in the living room!

Christmas night was so peaceful. Vaught was worn out and went to bed early, so I enjoyed coffee and a book on the couch.

 

I jump-started healthy eating again the next day with fresh fruit and almond butter for breakfast. I definitely had not been counting calories all week!

 

On Wednesday night of the next week, I met Audrey Anna in New Albany to exchange our gifts. She got me an adorable coffee mug from Starbucks and a Colorado Chick beanie! I'd been wanting one for two months!

And did I work out over the break? HA! Like, three times! I did go on a couple of good runs, but I regret not working out more! Even still, my total Christmas weight gain was just over three pounds, which I've since lost, so I ain't even worried about it.

 

 

Two more significant things happened over the break: Ole Miss won the AllState Sugar Bowl, and I became an Independent Distributor for ItWorks Global. Both of these things made my Christmas break that much better! I have loved working for ItWorks! so far. I've already signed several loyal customers and am signing more each week! ItWorks products helped me shed 30 pounds and get over that  weight loss plateau I hit last year. Please message me if you're interested in learning more!

 

 

The words in the photo above ring so true to me right now. Although things at my job as a teacher are a little iffy, I am loving being a part of a company that is quickly changing lives. I can already see many positive ways that it's changing me. I'm waking up with a new fire and passion; I have goals I want to accomplish, and ItWorks is helping me do that, while having fun in the process!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post again; I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Come back tomorrow for a post on my first DREAM BOARD PARTY!