Okay, so at 34 I figured I would still be in my prime. I'm not yet 40, just a smidge past the 20's...so why do I feel so old? Maybe it's the fact that a friend of mine referred to herself as a "cougar wanting to tame a certain werewolf". Ack! Cougars at our age? Depressing. So rather than marinate in self pity, I decided to indulge my inner 20 year old day today. I dressed up in cute 20 something clothes, sassy boots with sassy heels, and even *gasp* a dollop of glitter eye liner. I neglected my laundry, skipped work...and focused on what makes me feel happy and young..."New Moon" (or rather, the hot cast of New Moon).
I've already blogged about my slight "Twilight" obsession (yes, I'm one of those irritating "Twi-hards"). I love it. Love the books, loved the movie. There's just something about passionate, forbidden romance that's appealing (well, and the fact that the main character absolutely smolders doesn't hurt). I've never been a "chick flick" kind of girl. Give me zombies and werewolves over sob stories and romance any day. But the Twilight saga did both...vampires, werewolves, AND romance. It suckered me in: hook, fang, and sinker.
On to my New Moon afternoon. The acting in the movie is hardly Oscar worthy. In fact, there's a few scenes that made me slightly nauseous with overindulgent cheesiness. Yet...I have the odd compulsion to see the movie again...and again...and again. So today, I satisfied my inner 20 year old and gave in to my selfish cravings. I went to the movies..by myself. I didn't feel weird, or geeky, just giddy. I wasn't alone in my obsession. On a Monday afternoon at 12:30, the theater was blissfully half full. There were other drooling moms and one rather large body building type dude (I'm assuming he didn't want his friends to know he watched "New Moon"). I'd already seen it, but found myself leaning forward in anticipation. I loved it more than the first time and found myself oogling the main characters with tweenish (is that an adjective?) delight. As I left the theater, I felt like what I'd imagine someone who is having an affair feels like. I tossed the movie theater stub, hid my soda cup, and then (insert air quotes here) "forgot" to mention my afternoon activity to my significant other (who, by the by, does NOT share my love for gorgeous undead men and well muscled werewolves).
Long story short, sometimes you just have to do what makes you happy. I left the theater happily satisfied (even though I suffered the realization that I must be getting old because I found Bella's dad curiously attractive). Sometimes, you just need a break from reality.
Tomorrow will be another story. Back to the grind, work, work, work, bills, laundry, children bickering, more work...the same old same old. But today, my inner 20 year old is happy.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Please support my dear friend Kacie and the Indiana Deaf Blind Association! She's an remarkable woman who never ceases to amaze me with her determination and tenacity for life. Please take a minute to read through this brief informational blog and see how you can make a difference in the lives of others through a simple fundraising contribution. Thank you!
From Kacie:
Dear Friends and Family,
As you know, I am actively involved in the Indiana Deaf Blind Association as the Vice President and that we are working hard to grow into a strong and resourceful organization.
This summer, the InDBA will be hosting it's first weekend retreat for the Deaf Blind throughout the state of Indiana. One of the challenges of being Deaf Blind is that many become isolated without the means to communicate with those around them.
This retreat will be a weekend of fun, workshops with lots of information, and lessons on how to advocate and empower ourselves for the things we need to be active members of our communities. This weekend will bring Deaf Blind people together to be able to socialize, sharing thier stories and experiences, as well as to learn with the barriers that are normally encountered removed.
With hosting this retreat, InDBA is raising funds to provide transportation, interpreters, bring in key note speakers from organizations such as the American Association for the Deaf Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, InTRAC/Indiana Relay, and several others. We also plan to have some fun activities such as an exotic animal show, which the Deaf Blind will be able to tactilely feel the animals, a dance, and tandem biking on the lovely Monon bike trail. To host this type of event, we are needing to raise several thousand dollars and thus need your support!
We are holding this fundraiser of beautiful Silpada Jewelry, belts, and watches with the gracious help of a good friend of mine, who is donating nearly all of her commission to this cause.
Any purchase that you make, 20% of of the sales will go to InDBA. There is a flat rate shipping price and all items will be shipped directly to the customer from Silpada. Please do not feel pressured to make a purchase, however any purchase made will be sincerely appreciated!
Please take a look at the information below and if you are interested in ordering, please email me at my email listed below and I'll send you the order forms. We hope that you will consider supporting InDBA and have some beautiful new jewelry for you or your loved ones to wear!
God Bless! Kacie Weldy & Rei
Vice President ~ Indiana Deaf Blind Association
IN Partners In Policymaking: Class of 2009
Indiana Deaf Blind Association Silpada Designs Fundraiser
DETAILS:
Please support InDBA with your purchase of fine Silpada Designs Jewelry!
20% of all proceeds from sales will go to InDBA!
~ What is Silpada Designs Jewelry ~
Silpada Designs offers a unique and exclusive line of fine sterling silver jewelry, belts and watches. Our jewelry is the highest quality and is not painted or plated, it is not costume jewelry, and it contains no nickel fillers. Each piece of Silpada jewelry is stunning, unique and handcrafted by artisans all over the world. Each piece varies . . . just like the hands that make our unique jewelry. The quality of Silpada Jewelry is impeccable and the benefits for hosting a fundraiser are extremely generous. These qualities are what our customers have grown to love about Silpada jewelry.
View Catalogs here:
Silpada Designs 2008-2009 Catalog:
http://mysilpada.com/sites/public/content/jewelry/us/en/viewpage.jsp?page=01&catalog=catalog0809&catalogGUID=catalog0809-f3e7a9a4-dab3-4197-a479-5bfa32be7ad2
Silpada Designs 2008-2009 Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry Sterling Additions:
http://mysilpada.com/sites/public/content/jewelry/us/en/viewpage.jsp?page=01&catalog=catalogSup09&catalogGUID=catalog09Sup-0bd80023-63d2-4386-bc98-43eb6bb5e53d
Orders will be taken through June 15th, 2009. Must be placed via email or regular mail. You can email the representative directly at: sdrblingslinger@gmail.com. I sincerely thank you all in advance for your help and support!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Confessions of a newly minted Bling Queen
To say that I despised Multi Level Marketing ventures was an understatement. I was constantly annoyed by the women who pestered me relentlessly to host parties for them. I didn’t do it. I was NOT a party hosting person. I tended to avoid those I thought might harass me for parties. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed going to the parties. What I didn’t like was the long presentations, the persistent “you should have a party” nagging. I liked to look at the products, try them…but not be followed around by over enthusiastic representatives.
Fast forward to this past January. A good friend announced she would be selling Silpada Designs jewelry. Great. Now, said friend is wonderful, she seemed very excited about her new venture. Without a thought to what I was about to do, I opened my big mouth and uttered the fateful words, “I’ll host your first party.” Afterwards…I cringed. What had I done? I don’t do parties…ugh.
The day arrived and friend showed up. I had light snacks and drinks, easy peesy. The invites were all emailed, another easy peesy. She came in, set up the jewelry and waited for the guests. Now, I’ve always been a very simple jewelry girl. Thin 16” gold chain, maybe a charm on the end. Plain hoop earrings, a bracelet. Done. But as we waited for the guests to arrive, I found myself drooling over the jewelry. It was gorgeous!! Beautiful .925 sterling silver (the same quality Tiffany Jewelers uses) and natural stones and gems made these some gorgeous pieces. This certainly wasn’t costume jewelry, this was nice stuff!
The guests arrived, they snacked, they drank, they chatted. I waited for the “presentation”. It didn’t come. The friend chatted with the guests…she appeared to *gasp* be having fun. Hmmm. Odd, she wasn’t stalking anyone, she wasn’t being pushy. Very interesting. She asked for our attention, and I thought, “Great, here it comes”. She talked for less than 2 minutes and that was that. It’s jewelry, there’s really nothing to “present”.
The guests had a great time. It was like being a little girl all over again, except we were playing dress up with REAL jewelry, beautiful, fashionable, chic jewelry! We all had a great time, in fact, my face hurt from laughing so much! The rep was very helpful if we had any questions, but otherwise, she did not hover over us as we tried on the jewelry.
Honestly, I hadn’t really given much thought to how much free jewelry I’d get. I was doing this for my friend, I didn’t really anticipate wearing the jewelry. Ha! By the end of the party, I had a full wish list of jewelry I needed to have. As we tallied up the sales, I was shocked beyond belief to learn that I’d earned $400 in FREE jewelry! OH….MY….. GOSH! I was thrilled! I thanked my friend and happily picked out my necklaces, toe rings, earrings, bracelets and anklets. Silpada shipped everything directly to my guests, I didn’t even have to deliver the purchases. Very convienient.
Over the next few months, I received my friend's invites to other Silpada parties. I told myself I was going to “support my friend”. I was really trying to suppress my new found addiction to Silpada’s stunning jewelry. I made a few purchases and was so absolutely thrilled with them all.
I knew I was on to something when I was dressed in a fraying tank top and cut off shorts, taking the kids to school, and my husband asked, “Why are you so dressed up?”. I laughed. It was the jewelry. Amazing how a little bling can dress you up! The next day, a mom who had seen me throughout the school year in the exact same t-shirt/short combo said, “You always look so put together.” My mouth dropped open. The $5 Target t-shirt still bore signs of the oatmeal my son had “accidentally” hurled that morning, the shorts were simple denim shorts, nothing designer, nothing fancy. But the jewelry made the outfit. All of a sudden, I was a new person. I was still a mom, but now I was a mom with style ;)
I said before that I despised MLM companies and tactics. It was still true. However, Silpada was drastically different. No pressure tactics, no lengthy presentations, no pushy/aggressive sales people. With the economy faring the way it is, I had begun to think about getting another job. I was intrigued by Silpada, but still leery. I began researching, Googling, interviewing past and present reps, and reading anything I could get my hands on. I really liked what I discovered.
They emphasized setting your own schedule…putting your family first. There were no minimum requirements for sales, you did as much or as little as you wanted. No inventory, no quotas, and wonderful free jewelry incentives…I was slowly being convinced. Combine that with the fact that the company is debt free and had their best year ever in 2008 despite the sagging economy…I was even more intrigued. I already loved the jewelry, but the more I researched, the more I loved it. REAL silver, real stones and gems, all uniquely handcrafted, no plating or costume pieces, these were pieces that could be handed down through generations!
I tagged along to yet another party. It was no fluke. The rep had fun, the rep made a very good amount money in a very short time ($330 in 2 hours!), the hostess earned tons of free jewelry. I could do this I thought. I was sold. I signed up to become a Silpada Designs Representative and haven’t looked back.
The fact that Silpada was able to convince me, a professed direct selling hater, to join, speaks volumes. I wouldn’t work for just any company. I would only work for the best, and let me tell you, Silpada is it. Their customer care and representative care are outstanding. Their quality is second to none.
So if you’ve been wondering how to earn some extra money, but still stay home with your family, AND look great doing it, please feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to share my story and answer any questions you might have. I’m not a pushy person, I am just so thrilled to have discovered this amazing company and it’s products, that I felt compelled to share with all of you ;)
If you'd like to become "that mom" who is wearing the $5 t-shirt, but still looks fashionably chic, look over our online catalog and see what we have to offer (please email me for my website). Or send me your address and I'd be happy to mail you our current catalog.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story!
Deirdre Motley
SD Representative and Newly Minted Bling Queen
sdrblingslinger@gmail.com
Fast forward to this past January. A good friend announced she would be selling Silpada Designs jewelry. Great. Now, said friend is wonderful, she seemed very excited about her new venture. Without a thought to what I was about to do, I opened my big mouth and uttered the fateful words, “I’ll host your first party.” Afterwards…I cringed. What had I done? I don’t do parties…ugh.
The day arrived and friend showed up. I had light snacks and drinks, easy peesy. The invites were all emailed, another easy peesy. She came in, set up the jewelry and waited for the guests. Now, I’ve always been a very simple jewelry girl. Thin 16” gold chain, maybe a charm on the end. Plain hoop earrings, a bracelet. Done. But as we waited for the guests to arrive, I found myself drooling over the jewelry. It was gorgeous!! Beautiful .925 sterling silver (the same quality Tiffany Jewelers uses) and natural stones and gems made these some gorgeous pieces. This certainly wasn’t costume jewelry, this was nice stuff!
The guests arrived, they snacked, they drank, they chatted. I waited for the “presentation”. It didn’t come. The friend chatted with the guests…she appeared to *gasp* be having fun. Hmmm. Odd, she wasn’t stalking anyone, she wasn’t being pushy. Very interesting. She asked for our attention, and I thought, “Great, here it comes”. She talked for less than 2 minutes and that was that. It’s jewelry, there’s really nothing to “present”.
The guests had a great time. It was like being a little girl all over again, except we were playing dress up with REAL jewelry, beautiful, fashionable, chic jewelry! We all had a great time, in fact, my face hurt from laughing so much! The rep was very helpful if we had any questions, but otherwise, she did not hover over us as we tried on the jewelry.
Honestly, I hadn’t really given much thought to how much free jewelry I’d get. I was doing this for my friend, I didn’t really anticipate wearing the jewelry. Ha! By the end of the party, I had a full wish list of jewelry I needed to have. As we tallied up the sales, I was shocked beyond belief to learn that I’d earned $400 in FREE jewelry! OH….MY….. GOSH! I was thrilled! I thanked my friend and happily picked out my necklaces, toe rings, earrings, bracelets and anklets. Silpada shipped everything directly to my guests, I didn’t even have to deliver the purchases. Very convienient.
Over the next few months, I received my friend's invites to other Silpada parties. I told myself I was going to “support my friend”. I was really trying to suppress my new found addiction to Silpada’s stunning jewelry. I made a few purchases and was so absolutely thrilled with them all.
I knew I was on to something when I was dressed in a fraying tank top and cut off shorts, taking the kids to school, and my husband asked, “Why are you so dressed up?”. I laughed. It was the jewelry. Amazing how a little bling can dress you up! The next day, a mom who had seen me throughout the school year in the exact same t-shirt/short combo said, “You always look so put together.” My mouth dropped open. The $5 Target t-shirt still bore signs of the oatmeal my son had “accidentally” hurled that morning, the shorts were simple denim shorts, nothing designer, nothing fancy. But the jewelry made the outfit. All of a sudden, I was a new person. I was still a mom, but now I was a mom with style ;)
I said before that I despised MLM companies and tactics. It was still true. However, Silpada was drastically different. No pressure tactics, no lengthy presentations, no pushy/aggressive sales people. With the economy faring the way it is, I had begun to think about getting another job. I was intrigued by Silpada, but still leery. I began researching, Googling, interviewing past and present reps, and reading anything I could get my hands on. I really liked what I discovered.
They emphasized setting your own schedule…putting your family first. There were no minimum requirements for sales, you did as much or as little as you wanted. No inventory, no quotas, and wonderful free jewelry incentives…I was slowly being convinced. Combine that with the fact that the company is debt free and had their best year ever in 2008 despite the sagging economy…I was even more intrigued. I already loved the jewelry, but the more I researched, the more I loved it. REAL silver, real stones and gems, all uniquely handcrafted, no plating or costume pieces, these were pieces that could be handed down through generations!
I tagged along to yet another party. It was no fluke. The rep had fun, the rep made a very good amount money in a very short time ($330 in 2 hours!), the hostess earned tons of free jewelry. I could do this I thought. I was sold. I signed up to become a Silpada Designs Representative and haven’t looked back.
The fact that Silpada was able to convince me, a professed direct selling hater, to join, speaks volumes. I wouldn’t work for just any company. I would only work for the best, and let me tell you, Silpada is it. Their customer care and representative care are outstanding. Their quality is second to none.
So if you’ve been wondering how to earn some extra money, but still stay home with your family, AND look great doing it, please feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to share my story and answer any questions you might have. I’m not a pushy person, I am just so thrilled to have discovered this amazing company and it’s products, that I felt compelled to share with all of you ;)
If you'd like to become "that mom" who is wearing the $5 t-shirt, but still looks fashionably chic, look over our online catalog and see what we have to offer (please email me for my website). Or send me your address and I'd be happy to mail you our current catalog.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story!
Deirdre Motley
SD Representative and Newly Minted Bling Queen
sdrblingslinger@gmail.com
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Heavenly Impressions
Okay, so I usually talk candles and fragrances, but I have a wonderful company that I felt compelled to dish about: Heavenly Impressions.
Based out of Shreveport, Lousiana, Heavenly Impressions is the brainchild of Rachel Fultz (www.heavenlyimpressions.com). Heavenly Impressions offers chic and trendy scrapbook inspired photo cards and other unique products. These wonderful cards aren’t your everyday cards! From invitations to holiday cards, Heavenly Impressions has a creative array of fantastic choices.
I discovered this fantastic company while trying to find photo birthday cards for my daughter’s upcoming birthday party several years ago. She was having a Flip Flop Pool Party theme. When I stumbled on Rachel’s site, I was sold! Her Hot Pink Hawaiian card was EXACTLY what I’d been hunting for!
I’d ordered from other companies before finding Rachel’s fantastic company. I won’t ever go back! Not only were the cards professional, the customer service was outstanding. Rachel quickly answers any questions or concerns. She gets back to you with a proof of your design very quickly and ships promptly (although if you’re a procrastinator like me, she does offer Rush Delivery). AND, if your daughter decides to take all 25 invitations to school and invite her entire class plus a few, and you are now out of invitations to give to family members and neighbors....Rachel is more than happy to create a few more ;) Don't ask me how I know this, LOL.
In addition to invitations for all occasions, Rachel offers birth announcements, stationary, address labels and jewelry! For the Holidays, her photo Christmas cards are perfect (and she also offers Hanukah cards as well). Again being the ever constant procrastinator that I am, I missed Christmas cards last year and ended up ordering New Year’s cards. I came up with a cute poem and Rachel custom designed the cards to fit my needs. They turned out beautifully and everyone loved them! This year we’ll be ordering the photo ornaments as presents for family!
So if you’re looking for unique, high quality custom cards, ornaments, stationary or more, be sure to swing by http://www.heavenlyimpressions.com/ . You won’t be disappointed!
Based out of Shreveport, Lousiana, Heavenly Impressions is the brainchild of Rachel Fultz (www.heavenlyimpressions.com). Heavenly Impressions offers chic and trendy scrapbook inspired photo cards and other unique products. These wonderful cards aren’t your everyday cards! From invitations to holiday cards, Heavenly Impressions has a creative array of fantastic choices.
I discovered this fantastic company while trying to find photo birthday cards for my daughter’s upcoming birthday party several years ago. She was having a Flip Flop Pool Party theme. When I stumbled on Rachel’s site, I was sold! Her Hot Pink Hawaiian card was EXACTLY what I’d been hunting for!
I’d ordered from other companies before finding Rachel’s fantastic company. I won’t ever go back! Not only were the cards professional, the customer service was outstanding. Rachel quickly answers any questions or concerns. She gets back to you with a proof of your design very quickly and ships promptly (although if you’re a procrastinator like me, she does offer Rush Delivery). AND, if your daughter decides to take all 25 invitations to school and invite her entire class plus a few, and you are now out of invitations to give to family members and neighbors....Rachel is more than happy to create a few more ;) Don't ask me how I know this, LOL.
In addition to invitations for all occasions, Rachel offers birth announcements, stationary, address labels and jewelry! For the Holidays, her photo Christmas cards are perfect (and she also offers Hanukah cards as well). Again being the ever constant procrastinator that I am, I missed Christmas cards last year and ended up ordering New Year’s cards. I came up with a cute poem and Rachel custom designed the cards to fit my needs. They turned out beautifully and everyone loved them! This year we’ll be ordering the photo ornaments as presents for family!
So if you’re looking for unique, high quality custom cards, ornaments, stationary or more, be sure to swing by http://www.heavenlyimpressions.com/ . You won’t be disappointed!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
My Faith In My Fellow Humans
It’s sad that we live in a society where so many people have lost faith in each other, in humanity. Violence, murder, selfish lawsuits... unfortunately, living in a large city, this is a part of everyday life. I grew up in a small town. Small towns are a world unto themselves. We didn’t lock our doors, we said hello to each other, we waved to strangers, that’s how we rolled. My daughter recently waved to a neighbor from down the street…he looked at her and drove on…didn’t even smile. How can you resist a toothless 7 year old in pig tails? It broke my heart. I guess I’ve been frustrated with life in a big city, and consequently the behavior of the city’s’ people for some time now. It took a car accident to restore my faith in my fellow human beings.
I was driving back from Target. I only had K in the car, very unusual, I usually have all three. But it was a Sunday, so I wanted to make a special mommy and me time for just K and I. Driving home, there was a Honda Civic in front of me. The car in front of him slammed on his brakes and swerved, the Honda swerved, and unfortunately, I couldn’t swerve without hitting oncoming traffic…so bam. I rear ended the 2008 Honda Civic. We immediately pulled to the side of the road. K was fine (her main concern was whether or not mommy was going to jail). I got out of the car, worried to death that someone might be hurt. I have to admit that I was also worried that whomever I’d hit was going to get out screaming and yelling (not a scene I wanted my child to see). I needn’t have worried. I had hit a young 20 year old man, driving back from a weekend away with a friend. I felt so awful I was almost crying. I didn’t even worry about the damage to my van, I just felt so horrible that I’d cracked his bumper. He was very nice about things, telling me these things happen, everyone was fine, no worries. We called the police who came, ticketed me, and sent us on our way.
After I got home, I started to stress. I know a woman (luckily not a friend of mine) who was rear ended and sued the other driver…for $80,000! Now, I don’t know about you, but I sure as heck don’t have $80,000. I also know my good friend “C” had gone through a horrible ordeal due to rear ending the “wrong person”. I knew the other driver was okay, and the policeman was careful to document everything to make sure there were no injuries. But what if he did sue me? Face it, we live in a sue happy society. It’s horrible. I had a hard time sleeping that night. The next day I got a phone call from the boy’s mom. She wanted to make sure I was okay!! I was flabbergasted. I told her we were fine and how sorry I was about her son’s car. She was so nice about everything, very empathetic (they’d been in a similar situation a few months ago, but they were at the other end…the cause of the accident). Long story short, this family was so nice, so gracious, it just surprised me. It put things into perspective.
Yes, there are people who will sue you for looking at them wrong. But there are still good people in this world. There are still people who genuinely care for others, decent human beings. My faith in humanity has been restored by one family. One family being human, being caring. It’s crazy how something so little can make such an impact. One little act of decency is all it took. After all was said and done, the insurance claim filed, I returned the act. I called the family and thanked them. I explained to them how grateful I was for their kindness. I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated how they had handled the situation. Imagine that. A car accident where no one yelled, no one screamed, no one got sued, and the participants involved were kind to each other. That’s how life should be (well, without the whole car accident thing ; ).
I was driving back from Target. I only had K in the car, very unusual, I usually have all three. But it was a Sunday, so I wanted to make a special mommy and me time for just K and I. Driving home, there was a Honda Civic in front of me. The car in front of him slammed on his brakes and swerved, the Honda swerved, and unfortunately, I couldn’t swerve without hitting oncoming traffic…so bam. I rear ended the 2008 Honda Civic. We immediately pulled to the side of the road. K was fine (her main concern was whether or not mommy was going to jail). I got out of the car, worried to death that someone might be hurt. I have to admit that I was also worried that whomever I’d hit was going to get out screaming and yelling (not a scene I wanted my child to see). I needn’t have worried. I had hit a young 20 year old man, driving back from a weekend away with a friend. I felt so awful I was almost crying. I didn’t even worry about the damage to my van, I just felt so horrible that I’d cracked his bumper. He was very nice about things, telling me these things happen, everyone was fine, no worries. We called the police who came, ticketed me, and sent us on our way.
After I got home, I started to stress. I know a woman (luckily not a friend of mine) who was rear ended and sued the other driver…for $80,000! Now, I don’t know about you, but I sure as heck don’t have $80,000. I also know my good friend “C” had gone through a horrible ordeal due to rear ending the “wrong person”. I knew the other driver was okay, and the policeman was careful to document everything to make sure there were no injuries. But what if he did sue me? Face it, we live in a sue happy society. It’s horrible. I had a hard time sleeping that night. The next day I got a phone call from the boy’s mom. She wanted to make sure I was okay!! I was flabbergasted. I told her we were fine and how sorry I was about her son’s car. She was so nice about everything, very empathetic (they’d been in a similar situation a few months ago, but they were at the other end…the cause of the accident). Long story short, this family was so nice, so gracious, it just surprised me. It put things into perspective.
Yes, there are people who will sue you for looking at them wrong. But there are still good people in this world. There are still people who genuinely care for others, decent human beings. My faith in humanity has been restored by one family. One family being human, being caring. It’s crazy how something so little can make such an impact. One little act of decency is all it took. After all was said and done, the insurance claim filed, I returned the act. I called the family and thanked them. I explained to them how grateful I was for their kindness. I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated how they had handled the situation. Imagine that. A car accident where no one yelled, no one screamed, no one got sued, and the participants involved were kind to each other. That’s how life should be (well, without the whole car accident thing ; ).
Thursday, July 24, 2008
My New Addiction!
I have a new addiction. It is so unbelievably bad. My house is a disaster, my kids are running wild, my husband is abandoned. My dinner has consisted of rice crackers and Diet Pepsi for the past week. The dogs are sadly neglected and the cats have been ignored. My addiction is also catching. I’ve given it to my girlfriend ,“C”. We sneak out to the gym to fulfill our addiction. Exercise, schmexercise, we’re being slaves to our addiction. Our husbands miss us. It’s insanity.
No, we’re not sneaking out doing anything horrendous. We’re reading. Yes, that’s right, we’re dorks. I had a girls’ night out the other night and the topic turned to books. Several ladies were chatting about this fantastic series they were reading. Now, being the book aficionado I am (and yes, that translates into dork), I had to know what these ladies were raving about. “Twilight”. At first I heard “romance” and that about threw me off…..I don’t do mush. Then I heard, “Vampire” and that (excuse the lame pun) sucked me in. That is soooooo my type of book!
And so began my addiction. I took a minute Saturday to head over to the bookstore. I found “Twilight” by Stephenie (yes, that’s how it’s spelled) Meyer. At the checkout, the lady behind the counter asked me, “Would you like to sign up for our book club and save 10%”. My reply, “No, I don’t buy very many new books”. *Sigh* If only I had known how bad the addiction would be. I could’ve saved a ton of mula. I headed home, and decided, “Nah, laundry can wait, I’ll read for a few minutes”. Famous last words; three hours later…I was still reading. I was hooked. Made a fancy dinner consisting of fish sticks and cottage cheese, kept reading. Read all afternoon…all night…and finished the book by Sunday morning. Alluring vampires, danger, romance, and teenage angst….could it get any better?
I was so enamored with this book, I knew I had to share it. Within 5 minutes of finishing it, I headed over to “C’s” house. Her husband thought I was nutty, he couldn’t believe I read the whole book in less than a day. Oh, if only he knew how bad it would get.
Rushed BACK to the bookstore, and bought the second one, “New Moon”. Same checkout lady. Gave me a funny look. And no, I still didn’t sign up for the 10% club. Read, read, read. Went to the gym, read for an hour while walking on the treadmill, then since I was at a good part, did the bike for 30 minutes. “C” was next to me on the treadmill reading the first book, “Twilight”. Ah, two dorks completely obsessed ;) Headed home and read the book while at the stoplight (no joke). Finished it Monday morning. Tried to convince myself I could wait for the next book. It didn’t work, all I could think about was the next “hit”.
Headed BACK to the same bookstore. Now the checkout lady is looking a bit smug. I brace myself for the “You could have saved” lecture. Thankfully my 4 year old was so amazingly loud, she was distracted. Made off with my purchase of “Eclipse” and headed home. Like a true addict, I tried to draw it out. I promised myself, “Just a few chapters”. I will get laundry done today (since now it’s piled up to my closet ceiling). I called “C” to see how her laundry was going…..she was faring no better. We agreed to meet at the gym “to work out”. Yes, we did exercise, but we also read obsessively the entire time. I even made her go an extra 10 minutes so I could get through my chapter! And now I’m done. I’m a freak. I’m jittery knowing that another book doesn’t come out until August 2. How will I survive?? *Ugh* I guess I’ll have to go get that laundry done…until the next book comes out….then I’ll fall off the wagon ;)
No, we’re not sneaking out doing anything horrendous. We’re reading. Yes, that’s right, we’re dorks. I had a girls’ night out the other night and the topic turned to books. Several ladies were chatting about this fantastic series they were reading. Now, being the book aficionado I am (and yes, that translates into dork), I had to know what these ladies were raving about. “Twilight”. At first I heard “romance” and that about threw me off…..I don’t do mush. Then I heard, “Vampire” and that (excuse the lame pun) sucked me in. That is soooooo my type of book!
And so began my addiction. I took a minute Saturday to head over to the bookstore. I found “Twilight” by Stephenie (yes, that’s how it’s spelled) Meyer. At the checkout, the lady behind the counter asked me, “Would you like to sign up for our book club and save 10%”. My reply, “No, I don’t buy very many new books”. *Sigh* If only I had known how bad the addiction would be. I could’ve saved a ton of mula. I headed home, and decided, “Nah, laundry can wait, I’ll read for a few minutes”. Famous last words; three hours later…I was still reading. I was hooked. Made a fancy dinner consisting of fish sticks and cottage cheese, kept reading. Read all afternoon…all night…and finished the book by Sunday morning. Alluring vampires, danger, romance, and teenage angst….could it get any better?
I was so enamored with this book, I knew I had to share it. Within 5 minutes of finishing it, I headed over to “C’s” house. Her husband thought I was nutty, he couldn’t believe I read the whole book in less than a day. Oh, if only he knew how bad it would get.
Rushed BACK to the bookstore, and bought the second one, “New Moon”. Same checkout lady. Gave me a funny look. And no, I still didn’t sign up for the 10% club. Read, read, read. Went to the gym, read for an hour while walking on the treadmill, then since I was at a good part, did the bike for 30 minutes. “C” was next to me on the treadmill reading the first book, “Twilight”. Ah, two dorks completely obsessed ;) Headed home and read the book while at the stoplight (no joke). Finished it Monday morning. Tried to convince myself I could wait for the next book. It didn’t work, all I could think about was the next “hit”.
Headed BACK to the same bookstore. Now the checkout lady is looking a bit smug. I brace myself for the “You could have saved” lecture. Thankfully my 4 year old was so amazingly loud, she was distracted. Made off with my purchase of “Eclipse” and headed home. Like a true addict, I tried to draw it out. I promised myself, “Just a few chapters”. I will get laundry done today (since now it’s piled up to my closet ceiling). I called “C” to see how her laundry was going…..she was faring no better. We agreed to meet at the gym “to work out”. Yes, we did exercise, but we also read obsessively the entire time. I even made her go an extra 10 minutes so I could get through my chapter! And now I’m done. I’m a freak. I’m jittery knowing that another book doesn’t come out until August 2. How will I survive?? *Ugh* I guess I’ll have to go get that laundry done…until the next book comes out….then I’ll fall off the wagon ;)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Being a WAHM!
Being a WAHM
What is a WAHM? WAHM stands for Work-at-home mom and it happens to be the current title I've adopted. As a child, my own mother stayed home with us. That’s all I knew. Mom would be there for lunch, she’d make us dinner, if we needed help in the classroom or with Girl Scouts, mom would do it. Once we were older, she went back to school and eventually worked full time. My own path has been somewhat different.
After graduating high school, I attend the University of Arizona where I met my husband to be. Eventually, I transferred to Arizona State University where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Business, specializing in Human Resources. I had high ambitions of working my way up the corporate ladder and making enough money to live very comfortably. Oh how life changes! I was married in August of 1997. I had my internships lined up and possible jobs all laid out. Then life threw us a curveball (albeit a very wanted and very loved curveball). I got pregnant in November of 1997 and all my ideals on life changed in one instant. While the pregnancy wasn’t planned, we were ecstatic. All my life I’ve wanted to be a mom. I was 22 at the time. I finished up college, scrapped the internships, and made the executive decision to become a stay-at-home mom.
Being a stay-at-home mom is absolutely one of the most rewarding jobs you could be blessed with. Yes, it does involve playing Barbies and Hot-Wheels and eating stale PB & J at times rather than schmoozing at corporate events and eating sushi, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, my youngest will start kindergarten next year, and since we have all day kindergarten, I’ll have no children at home. I started thinking about getting a job. But, what would I do if one of my kids was sick? What if I want to chaperone a field trip? How could I still be my daughter’s Girl Scout Leader? What if, what if, what if? It boiled down to the fact that I didn’t want to work in an office. I wanted to work from home….which leads me to my current title…WAHM.
I’ve always had an obsession with candles. In 2004, I discovered the world of wax tarts (also called wax melts & wax potpourri, wax with no wick). I was hooked. I loved how my house would smell when I’d burn a tart, and no open flames was a nice bonus. In 2005, I had an epiphany. I could make these, how hard could it be? I could save some money! HA! Wow, boy was I in for a shocker. I made my first batch of tarts in August of 2005. I was so proud, I handed them out to everyone I knew that had a tart warmer (which is how you melt the tarts). I expected glowing reviews. I waited. And then my friend called, “Well, I can’t smell it”. I was floored. I immediately burned a few I’d made. I could smell them, but they definitely weren’t all that. And so began my adventure. I started playing with different waxes, formulas, and additives. The tarts got better! After about a year and much research (and LOTS of spent money), I’d found a formula that worked. I gave them to some testers and waited nervously. The result? RAVE reviews! The tarts were strong and they lasted for such a long time! And that’s how it began. I began making candles, dabbled in bath products and air fresheners, and slowly things began snowballing. Friends and family were placing orders left and right, but everyone had one question, “Do you have a website I can order from?”
In October 2007, I took the plunge and opened my own online store, The Blue Gecko Candle Company, http://www.bluegeckocandles.com/. I am so proud of it! It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s definitely worth it! I have the best customers (seriously)! It’s hard work, but hearing the pride in your little 6 year old’s voice as she’s telling her friends, “My mom made this”, is very rewarding! But the best part? I’m here in the morning when the kids wake up, I can still get them to school and I’m here when they get home. The downside? My laundry still piles up, my toilets still need to be scrubbed, and dinner still needs to get cooked. Trying to balance working with my normal mom duties has been very challenging, although I’m somewhat getting my routine down. And another bonus? Even if my house is messy, it smells darn good in here ;)
I am blessed. I have the best of both worlds, and I am thankful. Thank you for allowing me to share my story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
