Living an empowered life

Time for some truth talk ladies...

I worked for 17 years at a hard job with long hours and zero flexibility. I never felt like I was able to save a dime. There was a ceiling on how much money I could make. I felt stuck..

A few years ago I started working for myself and started Happy WifeStyle.

Last week I was able to take an ‘extra’ $10K and put it in an investment account. I’ve never had a chunk of money to do that with that was MINE. Do you know how that made me feel? It made me feel really EMPOWERED. It made me feel excited...

I don’t tell you this to gloat. No way, that’s not the point. I tell you this to let you know that I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I wouldn’t have taken the job with Beautycounter.

My husband makes a good living. He takes such great care of our family and I love him more than anything. But what if something happened? Last year on of my oldest, dearest friend’s life blew up when her husband of 20 years left without warning and told her he wanted a divorce..

Will that happen to me?  No. I absolutely don’t think so. But I have to admit, especially knowing their relationship, can I 100% guarantee that it wouldn’t?  No. No I can’t. I can only have complete control over one thing and that’s ME.

Part of the reason I started Happy WifeStyle was to inspire and empower women to want more out of this one life. It’s too short and too many people waste it by just going through the motions…

We need something that is OURS ladies. We need safety and security and purpose to live life the way it’s meant to be lived. I know with everything that I am that my Beautycounter business is that answer for me…and it could be that game-changer for you too.

I have established quite a few streams of income now with my Happy WifeStyle blog, brand and business, but I need to be honest with you and tell you that none of those streams come close to what I make from my Beautycounter business.

If you’ve considered starting your own business but don’t have the confidence to START, or don’t know what you’d do, I’d love to help you. 

This company is growing FAST and I am so grateful someone asked me to take this job, so now I’m asking you. Beautycounter is an amazing company doing amazing things, and it’s SO rewarding to work for. We are doing things so differently than any other company out there. We are not just another "beauty company". We’re a B-Corp like Patagonia. We educate about the industry and teach people how to choose safer products for their family. We provide high performing, safer solutions. We advocate for safer beauty laws for ALL beauty brands. We collaborate with big brands like J.Crew, Goop, and Target. We allow people to shop the products the way they choose…not ONLY through consultants. Bono has even an investor with us!

The best part is, this company is not even five years old yet. We are just getting started.

If I can do this you can too. You can work it into your life on your schedule any way you choose…whether you want some extra shopping money or want to replace your income and make it a full time career… You just have to START.

Message me or email me so I can answer your questions. Zero pressure, I’m not doing this for me. I’m posting this for YOU. ...To help YOU feel empowered in your life too. I’m going to succeed in this business with or without you (just being honest). But I’d love to have other inspired, like-minded women on this journey with me. I’d love to chat with you and find out if it’d be a good fit for you.  Learn more here and get started, you could be in business and start earning money right away. I look forward to working together! 

P.S. If you are local to the northern California area (I'm in Petaluma), I especially would love to talk to you about this as I am in the process of planning in-person get togethers for fellow girl bosses to talk business and ideas to bring Beautycounter into our community! We are better together, let's collaborate!

P.P.S. This opportunity may not be for you, but I know you know someone who would love to know more about this and would like to work with me, so please share this blog post with them. It just might change their life.

XO, Shannon

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More ways I can help you feel EMPOWERED:

- My Top 5 'Smart-Style' Money TIps

- My Financial Freedom Guide

- Five Steps to Choosing Your Best Life

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**photo by Claire Dobson

Whole30 Cauliflower Buffalo 'Wings'

A few months ago, my husband and I discovered Buffalo Wings made out of Cauliflower at a local restaurant here in Petaluma called The Shuckery.  We were hooked.  They surprisingly tasted so much like wings....but there were no wings!  I'd never even heard of them and since then I've discovered Cauliflower Buffalo Wings are all the rage!  Who knew? They were probably fried, so I was on a mission to make these healthy and Whole30 approved...

Ready to get more veggies in on game day? Try these delicious bites that will be perfect for your next football party!

Ingredients:

• 1 head Cauliflower, cut into florets

• 1 can (14oz) full fat coconut milk (whisked in a bowl to mix if separated)

• 1/4 c water (may need more or less to thicken or thin batter to the correct consistency. You want it thick enough to stick, but thin enough to drip off a bit.)

• 1/4 c coconut flour (plus more if you need to thicken your batter when mixing)

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 1 Tbsp Ghee, melted

• 1 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce

• Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil Cooking Spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking sheet.

2. Mix the batter by whisking the coconut milk, water, coconut flour, and garlic powder.

3. Dip the florets into the batter and let the excess drip off.

4. Arrange on the baking sheet, not crowding the pieces.

5. Bake for 20 mins.

6. Meanwhile melt the ghee in a saucepan. Add the hot sauce and whisk together.

7. When the cauliflower is done, put in large bowl and toss with the sauce mixture until coated.

8. Spray the baking sheet again and spread them on the baking sheet once again, and continue baking for 15-20 mins or until cooked through. If you need to, turn it up to broil and watch closely just to finish them off so they are nice and golden.

9. Serve immediately while they're warm with chives as garnish.

Serve with sliced carrots, celery with Non-Dairy Ranch Dressing for dipping!  Happy, healthy Superbowl everyone! 

Whole30 NSV - "I threw my scale in the trash!"

Every January I lead a group through the Whole30 program and one of my over 300 participants shared one of her NSV (non-scale victories) in the group and I asked her if I could share it with all of you...because it's one of the most important and FREEING ones ever....

Here's her share in her own words. I hope it inspires you to stop letting the scale dictate your day...

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“So I am typically very private in these groups, use them for recipe exchanges and some personal motivation. However, I had a NSV beyond all NSVs this morning that I feel empowered to share. 

I've done Whole 30 a number of times - I believe this is round 4 for me. No issue with eating this way as I've done it in the past for fitness purposes. However, I have always struggled with body image issues and have gone up and down the scale, most recently due to stress and thyroid related issues. The past few months have been hard as I've felt rather depressed about putting on the weight and not being able to find a solution - even with a legit wellness doctor assisting. January 1 something just clicked and I came out of the slump I'd been in, got back on a strict Whole 30 and have honestly felt fabulous - even feeling in the gym like I'm back to the athlete I used to be. When I started this round, I knew a 2 week business trip to Japan was on the horizon, but wasn't going to keep me from doing it for as long as I could. I figured it would help put me in a good frame of mind to at least be mindful of what I'm eating. Well, my trip starts today and my plan worked! I know I'm ending this round early and not going to be compliant over there and don't feel at all bad about it. Believe me, Soba noodles in Japan, for me, are WORTH IT! 

Because I knew I was ending my round and had been feeling great (clothes even fitting better), I decided to weigh myself just to see my progress. As the scale usually does, it made me feel like crap. The old 'really, only 3lbs' ran through my head, I started finding reason in why it was 'only 3' (I do lift a lot of weights) and I suddenly didn't feel quite as motivated to head to the gym or stick with my Whole 30 for the few last meals I have. And then I was mad at myself for even weighing - what does it matter? My worth, or frankly even my health, has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the number on the scale. I had felt SO great until that very moment when I saw that number - how ridiculous is that!?! So I threw my scale in the TRASH! I went to the gym, killed my workout and, guess what? My suit pants that I haven't worn in about a month were looser this morning! TAKE THAT YOU STUPID SCALE! So ladies, from this novel I just wrote (sorry about that!), my point is to NOT focus on weight any longer! Throw away your scale! Who cares what your weight is when this is done? That number doesn't tell you anything about how you feel or what you have to offer to this world!”  -Katie

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January Whole30

It's almost 2018 and you know what that means.....

Whole30 time!!!!!!

Here's the deal you guys, I am soooooo excited!

My application has been accepted to become an official Whole30 Certified Coach, but it's pretty extensive 4 part testing and I'm not finished yet, so I'm offering an exclusive closed Whole30 Group on Facebook for January for FREE!  This is the last time I'll be offering this much coaching at no charge so jump in! 

I will be be motivating the heck out of you and helping you out more than ever before...

As of today, the group is almost 200 strong and is growing every hour, so there's a heck of a support group waiting to help you complete a successful January Whole30...

Here's how to Join:

Go to Facebook and search the group "Happy WifeStyle Nutrition" and click "Join".  I'll approve you, and you can start browsing my posts as I'm already posting in there to get you prepped and ready!  Easy peasy!

If not now, when?  See you there!

Gratitude over Grief

Today I woke up grateful.  That hasn't been the case on many mornings over the past couple of months.

I haven't written lately because I wasn't ready to write about this until now.  If you read my usual posts they are motivating, upbeat, with that Happy WifeStyle vibe.....and then my brother Justin died.  

It was my first.  My first real loss.  My first time experiencing that level of grief and sadness at my core.  It was foreign to me.  No matter what the circumstance, the loss of a sibling...especially your only sibling...is a loss of a part of you.  I've never lived a day on this earth without him.  Even when he wasn't there in person, he was there in the background of my life ...my rock ...my protector ...my big brother who taught me so much.

I'd wonder... how do I write inspiring words for you when I'm crying and grieving?  I've never forced my writing or my posts.  If I'm not feeling authentic, I know that comes across, so I just decided to take a beat and heal.  I decided to let it happen and unfold instead of hiding the fact that I was really really sad.  I knew I'd come out the other side of this and tell you about it when I was ready, but also knew that I had to follow my heart and go through this thing called grief... 

I'm writing this now for the same reason I write many of my posts.  I wanted to be honest with you about where I've been.  I feel like my truth about this could help someone.  Throughout this process, it's helped so much to feel a sense of understanding from others who have gone through it before so maybe this can do that for someone else.  Everyone experiences grief differently, there's no right or wrong.  I knew that I needed to be true to myself and let it happen in its own time.  It can't be forced or rushed.  Time truly is the only thing that heals.  I'm finally feeling a bit normal again, like I can take a deep breath.

Some honest things I experienced throughout the process....

-- For the first two weeks I found it difficult to do "normal things".  I had this overwhelming feeling that the moment I did something routine or normal...that he'd be forgotten.  I knew it wasn't logical, but it was real and felt paralyzing. 

-- I usually feel pretty "in control" of my emotions so this felt scary to me...to not feel able to contain my sadness.  I kept waiting for it to pass.  I found myself counting the days...waiting.  I recall crying every day for the first 13 days, then I didn't cry for 3 days in a row and thinking it was "over".  Boy was I wrong.  Emotion would come at any time, randomly.  ...In the grocery store, in the middle of the night... I finally just gave myself a break and let it come and go.  

-- I screamed at the top of my lungs in the car a time or two where no one could hear me just to get a sense of release because the emotions inside me were just too much.  It helped.

-- I kept forgetting he was really gone.  It would hit me all over again.  I'd think, I'll have to show that photo to Justin.....oh yeah, he's gone.  He's really gone.

-- I'd never experienced the level of sadness where it literally felt like someone was squeezing my throat.  I guess it's the true sensation of being "choked up".  I always thought it was just an expression...now I get it.  When it would come over me, my throat would feel like it was closing to the point I could literally hear it squeak.  It's the strangest sensation and it still happens from time to time.

-- The stages of grief were not linear for me.  They skipped around randomly.

-- I got frustrated at times because I wanted to move on faster.  I had things to do.  The minute I thought I was on the other side of it, it would hit me again...and again.  I listened to books like Option B.  It helped some, but I finally had to come to terms with the fact I couldn't white knuckle my way through this one.  Grief takes time.

-- I felt him with me at times and didn't fight that.  I had to make all of the end of life decisions and plans, which was really tough on me.  I know at times he was guiding me and helping me know what to do.....through music, a way in which he'd know I'd know it was him.  I found so much comfort in that.

-- I accepted help.  I'm one who usually doesn't feel comfortable accepting help from others.  I knew better because I knew I needed it.  This is something I couldn't do alone.  I've never felt more supported and the generosity that surrounded me during this time has been astonishing.  I may have lost a big brother, but I gained a big sister.  One of Justin's first friends has helped me more than she'll ever know.  Thank you Susan for literally holding my hand through this.  (Susan wrote a beautiful tribute to Justin here if you'd like to read it.)

-- I learned that unless you've truly experienced grief, you cannot truly understand it....and that's okay.  I'm grateful I went 45 years without ever knowing it.  I felt guilty for times in the past for thinking others who'd lost someone weren't getting over it fast enough.  I'll never think that again.  I'll be supportive instead.

-- I had no idea just how draining emotional fatigue could be.

-- I understand now that grief isn't something you get over.  It becomes a part of you, you absorb it and the pain fades over time.  I don't feel like I'll ever be the same as I was before the news.  Not good, not bad, just changed.

-- I feel like I can support others so much better now that experience loss.  I couldn't do that before.  I thought I could, but now I know I couldn't.  ....and that's okay. 

So what now?

I keep going.  I keep working.  I keep moving forward.  I stay true to my heart.  I keep trying to be an inspiration to you.  I appreciate that intense feeling of loss...because that means I felt love.  I keep loving.

Loss and grief are a normal part of life.  We are wired for it, but it doesn't make it easy.  I let it take its course but I won't let it define me.  Even throughout the grief, I knew I'd come out the other side just fine ...a little bit stronger than before.  I knew acceptance would arrive in its own time.  I have a life I'm so grateful for and I plan to live it to the fullest.  

This process made me more honest.  Some really good things happened because of it.  It brought people together that would have never been brought together otherwise.  It opened old connections.  I had a conversation with my mom that took 45 years to have...it took all my courage and Justin would be so happy we finally had it.  That conversation was one he never got to have, so I had to do it for the both of us.  I did it for me....but I also did it for him.  I used to be really good at hiding the pain of growing up with an alcoholic father and pretending I was just fine.  I'm ready to be more honest about it because it's made me who I am today.  I know it's given me a silent strength that I wouldn't have otherwise.  It's absolutely exhausting to carry a heavy secret like that as a child and to have to experience grown up problems when you're still just a child.  I'm so grateful Justin and I got to talk about some of those times and truly understand one another before he was gone....that bonded us like never before and I'm so thankful for that.   

I feel grateful I got to have had Justin as my big brother.  He was protective of me.  He was my safe place when I was young.  He taught me about good music at a young age.  He saw the good in everyone.  He was a feeler.  He was a leader.  People were drawn to him.  His smile was contagious.  He was an innate talent.  He was a great writer.  He was a mentor to many in the art world.  He was a giver.  He told those he loved that he loved them.  He had a way about him that made each person in his life feel like they were the most special person to him.  He loved teaching troubled kids about art.  He traveled.  He lived his life.  He left a legacy that will be remembered.  He was loved by a lot of people, far and wide.

Below is the video I made for his Memorial in Malibu...it was a beautiful day.  This is for you Justin.  I love you.  You are missed.

Everyone who attended Justin's memorial got to choose one of his paintbrushes to take home.  These are the ones that are displayed in vases in my home now...I'll cherish them always.

I found a way to keep Justin close to my heart forever and always...

Thanks for reading.  xo

Black Friday Deals!

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ARE LIVE for those of you who are early birds and shopping early...read to the bottom for a BONUS gift from me!

1. Cleansing Balm in travel size and 100% muslin cloth in a red box. $38 US and $46 CAN 

2. Lash Power Couple - mini Volumizing Mascara and travel Make Up Remover in a red box. $20 US and $24 CAN 

*****These are limited quantites and will most likely sell out sometime on Friday.

3. FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100 US and $125 CAN Friday thru Sunday at 11:59pm PST.

4. GiFT WITH PURCHASE! FREE Beautycounter+ Spa Set of choice with any purchase over $250 US and $325 CAN Friday thru Sunday at 11:59pm ($88 VALUE).

Here’s more details on the different Spa Sets to choose from...

This Collection of targeted MASKS, MIST and OILS formulated with SAFER INGREDIENTS to enhance your current skincare regimen! Products to BRIGHTEN, PLUMP and BALANCE the skin.

#1 BRIGHTENING COLLECTION ~ Infused with multi-source VITAMIN C complex, BRIGHTENS dull skin and boosts radiance. Helps MINIMIZE DARK SPOTS for a more even complexion and radiant glow.

#2 PLUMPING COLLECTION ~ Formulated with powerful peony and jasmine essences to RESTORE and FIRM moisture-depleted skin. Helps diminish the appearance of fine lines

#3 BALANCING COLLECTION ~ Infused with ACTIVATED CHARCOAL and ylang ylang to gently refine oily, uneven skin. Charcoal removes excess oil and impurities. This collection works great for ACNE and BREAKOUT PRONE SKIN.

5. EXCLUSIVE BONUS FROM ME ----> ANYONE WHO SHOPS THROUGH MY LINK: https://www.beautycounter.com/shannontaatjes FROM FRIDAY UNTIL MONDAY AND SPENDS AT LEAST $150 (BEFORE TAX) WILL RECEIVE CHOICE OF A FREE CHARCOAL BAR OR A FREE LIP GLOSS OF CHOICE! THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DEALS ABOVE!! Just email me your order confirmation to shannon@happywifestyle.com and let me know which freebie you want as this one is coming from me. (The other freebies listed above will come straight from Beautycounter.)

6. Oh and don't forget...If you add Band of Beauty Membership to your cart for $29/year you get a FREE Nourishing Cream Cleanser too! It also gets you 15% cash back in product credit every time you shop...free shipping on ALL $100 orders (not just for Black Friday), and exclusive Member Only deals throughout the year! So worth it! Never any auto-ships either! Yay!

ARE YOU COMING TO MY PARTY TODAY TO SHOP WITH ME? See you with a mimosa live at 11am PST if you want to come to my Private Shopping Party on Facebook where I'll be showing you all of the Holiday Sets, doing more FREEBIE Giveaways just for those who attend, and telling you a bit more about the importance of switching to safer skincare and makeup products! Contact me if you want an invitation!

Happy Shopping!

xo, Shannon