Monthly Archives: October 2011

If Life Is A Box Of Chocolates, I Prefer To Package My Own

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Unless you have lived under a rock most of your life, you’ve probably heard the popular quote from the movie, Forrest Gump, “My momma always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”"  I suppose that on SOME levels that can be true if we chose to lead a passive life allowing the winds of circumstances to steer our ship.  That isn’t for me, I need more control over my journey.  Not to mention, if you are going to splurge on chocolates, buy the pricey kind, like Esther Price (love those!), that happen to have a cheat sheet telling you what is inside the various kinds of chocolates in the box!

I refuse to be a survivor in life, allowing things to just happen.  I’m a warrior, I fight against things that get in the way of my end goals.  I prefer to steer my own ship, thank you very much, and I do NOT care for guessing what is inside the chocolates in my box  of life.  Too often what looks tasty is flat-out disappointing.  My life has been full of situations that didn’t go as I would have liked, and little by little I’ve learned that if I want something in life, I can either gamble and take a lot of bites from truffles of chance, or I can plot and plan and fill the box of  life with chocolates I prepare.

Forrest Gump is full of simple wisdom, but this is one time I’m not accepting it.  Sure, I can open the box and start eating willy nilly whatever looks good and hope I bite into something scrumptious , and things may or may not turn out the way I’d like, but my odds are greatly increased  if I follow a recipe and set goals, write them down, make a plan to achieve them, then act on those plans.  I don’t care to sample all the bon bons in search of what I want.  I’d rather stop wasting time and start making and packaging my own, filling my life’s box with delicious choices I select!  To do this I have to follow the recipe.

I will succeed in my goals, and be a top seller with Avon.  I research and study what others have tried who are at the top, and I am incorporating those things.  Their ideas have spawned several of my own, and helped me locate opportunities for sales and recruiting.  I refuse to give up.  I will succeed!

Remember my name, you’ll be hearing it in rich and famous of Avon one day soon!

The Dating Diaries ~ The Princess & The Count

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It has been quite a while since I updated the status of my love life.  I’m sure everyone out there is chomping at the bit to know just how things are going between me and the man I met on a dating site.  I’m still kind of in shock at times that I went from happily married, to divorced and shattered on every mental and emotional level, to healing slowly, seeing a married man (in my own defense I had NO idea Mr. Wonderful was married until the end of the relationship), dating a super hero, then going out on over a dozen first dates with men I met online through dating sites.  Some of those first dates made it to a 2nd, and one or two hit a 3rd, but the 13th 1st date was to a man that held the key to my heart’s garden.  You all know him as The Count, the nickname I gave him because of his love of all things Halloween.  On my supporting cast page, he is Steve.

July 22nd of this year I went on my 13th and last first date.  I walked into one of my favorite places to grab  bite to eat and a cold beer, to meet someone I almost turned down.  Not because he wasn’t attractive, he is very good looking.  But mostly because I didn’t think I was what he was looking for based on the profile.  But it kept eating at me so I finally replied to his email and agreed to dinner.  That night I walked in, and looked into the eyes of someone that turned me inside out just looking at me.  I had this happen one other time in my life, and I was married for 22 years as a result.  There is a chemistry there, with a stranger, that when you look into their eyes you see their soul, and they in turn see yours.  I’ve read that we all have a particular scent and ‘sense’ about us, that attracts the partner that is the right mix for us.  Not sure if I believe that, but when I use the term chemistry, well I guess there is something to it?  SOMETHING clicks, like the fit of pieces in a 2 piece puzzle coming together, something is just RIGHT.  That was what I felt, it was like I had known him without ever having met.  If I were one that believed in reincarnation I’d say I found my mate from a previous life, but I don’t so I won’t go there.

My heart went through so much pain I  never imagined feeling love again.  Then to have it broken as it was finally healing, not once but twice after my divorce, well this princess had raised the drawbridge, added extra piranas to her mote and given up hope.  I had given up on love but I also enjoyed the company of a nice man, so, while locking up my heart, I still decided to date so I could at least get out of the house now and then.  One of the men I met, that made it to a second date, nicknamed himself Romeo.  He wrote a very good description of my heart as a garden, that I in turn picked up and ran with, as it was very accurate, The Marvelous Secret Garden and I posted what he had written to me.  Shortly after our first date he wrote more, in Part 2, ever hoping he’d be the one holding the key.  He had read just about every blog post I’ve written here, and possibly the ones from my previous blog site when married.  He definitely knew me rather well but he was not the one that held the key, and would have to forever remain outside of the garden.  My heart is well protected behind very thick walls and a locked gate that only 3 have ever held the key too.  Until now.

I wrote about meeting Steve, and how he looked right into my soul but didn’t push against the barriers, or try to find his way in.  He didn’t have too, because the key to my heart isn’t something one would know they have, or I would know, until they unlocked it.  That was just over 3 months ago, but it feels like we’ve known each other so much longer.

I’ve slowly met his family, and he has slowly been introduced to mine.  Things are progressing forward at a slow, steady pace.  Each time we’re together it is a little harder to be apart until the next time.  My heart very much loves him, but is able to take it’s time, letting this unfold and grow.  I’m learning to trust again, in the area of opening up and allowing someone inside my heart and mind.  I don’t have issues with jealousy this time, I never lack for assurance of his feelings for me.  When I’m with him I feel more safe and secure than I have ever felt in my life, that he would protect me.  My soul feels at peace with him.  I miss him a great deal when we are not together, but not in a clingy way, just a like a part of me is missing, until we’re together again.  I’m happy, very happy, in the sweetest possible way.

He hasn’t once tried to change me, he allows me to be true to myself.  I don’t try or even want to change him.  We balance each other nicely, even in areas where we will agree to disagree in our thoughts or views.  It is a relationship being built on a solid foundation of love and respect (perhaps the biggest missing piece to my failed marriage), one brick at a time. (thanks again, Chuck, that book you recommended, Love And Respect, is a life changer!)

So in case you were wondering, yes, he is still within the walls of my heart, slowly and carefully exploring that garden with me, and sharing more and more of his own heart, a piece at a time.  As each day passes, the other side of the garden that was so severely destroyed and burned, has grown over with vegetation and flowers, and the signs of the destruction are barely visible now.  There is no rush down the path, no need too.  We have all of our lives ahead of us to see where this might lead, and I’m savoring every minute of that journey. It is SO very different from any relationship that I’ve had before.

A Black Coffee Kind Of Life

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I drink my coffee black…no cream or sugar. It is very simple, just straight coffee.  As I have gotten busier of late  with building my Avon business, I’ve started to see the need for my life to go black coffee as well.  Simple and easy, just straight without all the extras that simply are filler that make it taste sweeter but in reality just add unwanted, drag me down pounds.

One way I have already done this is to clean up my Twitter account. I stopped following over 100 Tweeters.  It isn’t anything personal, just that I noticed I was scrolling past oodles of tweets that I had missed because I didn’t have time to read them.  If I am not reading them, no point following them.  I am following a number of folks that I look to for inspiration and marketing ideas, in addition to family and close friends.  Those  are the tweets I wish to find in my feed at the moment.  No offense if I  stopped following you, just too busy right now.

Over the coming week, I will be making time to clean up my Facebook account.  I follow a lot of people on there that I simply ‘know’ in passing and really don’t have anything to do with in my life, those will be going too.  I will also be cleaning out my closet and drawers, purging a bunch of clothes I have no use for any longer.  Many were from a former time in my life that I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them now.  Others are things I haven’t worn in the 17 months since I moved into this home, so they obviously are not needed.

Scaling back and simplifying is something I’ve done periodically throughout my life, it is like cleansing the soul and mind.  Not necessarily bad things just ‘stuff’ that is cluttering up my mind, heart or time that I need to let go of so I can grow and move to the next chapter or stage in my life.  Even my television habits have under gone some purging, I only have a few shows that I really enjoy and care to spend time watching, and when I do have them on I am usually working on something at the same time to make it a profitable time spent.

I’ve not had the kind of time to devote to writing, which has to change as my blog is my therapy and being neglected.  In order to do that I need to make some adjustments to the way I am doing things and eliminate things I do that are just time wasters.

*sipping black coffee*  Time to start purging…

Me Time…

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I’ve noticed that I’m not getting a lot of ‘me time’ lately.  Between 2 jobs I just don’t have much time left over.  Anyone that doesn’t think daycare is a job, has never done it.  It is difficult and what time I do have on the computer is interrupted constantly by at least one child if not all 3 of the ones I have all day.  But I do enjoy it so I’m not complaining.  Avon is hard work too, if you want it to be successful.  Not hard physically, especially now that I’m rolling and throwing the brochures from a moving car as opposed to walking them around.  But that takes time and planning.  I have a lot more to do than I had realized if I want this to be the money maker I know it can be.  But again,  not complaining at all, I love this business!  Mostly because I work for myself and set my own hours.  I’m a slave driver!

I’m at the end of a campaign, so it goes in tomorrow.  Orders are already online I just have to hit the final submit button come morning and it’s done.  I can now breathe for a night or two, relax a bit.  But I won’t.  Oh I have a glass of wine sitting here, but there is work to be done.  A new brochure to study, books to be read, I don’t feel I have the time to spend with online games like I wish I did.  Even when watching TV, most of the time I am multi-tasking by stamping and dating brochures.  I live for the day that I can do just the Avon, full time and really pour myself into it.  For now, I try to squeeze out as much time as possible.

Me time is nails and a hair cut.  Though even that is somewhat work related.  After all, would YOU buy cosmetics from someone that looked like they just crawled out from under a rock?  It’s like when I walk in a health food store and the person behind the counter looks like death walking, all skin and bones and chalky white skin.  NOT the picture of health if you ask me.  Sure, I want to be eating or drinking what you recommend, doesn’t everyone want to look like a starving vampire?  Having nice nails and my makeup on,  hair looking nice, goes a long way for selling Avon, at least I think so.

Me time is also a good book, though lately I’m reading books related to sales.  Not relaxing like a trashy romance novel, and it is work related stuff so I don’t count that as down time.  Blogging is me time too, therapy even. But lately I have only been keeping up regularly with my Avon blog, again work.  :(   I need to win the lottery.  I used to be somewhat of a procrastinator but that side of me has been swallowed up by the side of me that wants to succeed and make a lot of money.  Financial freedom, it IS what I most want, and to not have to worry about money anymore.  And I want to do what I love…working with people, marketing and selling great products.

I need to give myself an hour a day maybe, of me time.  To blog, pleasure read, play Farkle, anything as long as it is NOT work related and IS something I enjoy.

T.G.I.F. Coffee Musings

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THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!

This has been a long week, and yet a short week.  Long in the sense that last week I only worked 3 days because I left Thursday morning to go camping so a full 5 days of kids and I am ready for the looney bin.  Short in that this week has flown by.  But again, I am so thankful it is the end of the week, I am totally worn out.  Some what from camping, and some from just not going to bed at a decent hour all week.

It has been an interesting week as well as long and short.  I’ve taken up reading again, an all time favorite hobby.  This time I am reading books that are recommended by those who have been very successful in sales.  My Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, and Joe Girard.  She is one of the ‘rich and famous’ of Avon, he is the record holder for world’s greatest salesman having sold over 13,000 cars in a 15 year period.  If these individuals and a short list of others were to recommend I stand on my head in the corner every day for an hour, I would do it.  They didn’t get to be making well into the 6 figure incomes, even when the economy is in the toilet, without knowing how to do sales and do it successfully.  So in reading the past few weeks I learned about the importance of writing down my goals.  Those that write their goals down, then keep them in front of them every day, almost always succeed.  So, I wrote mine down, all of which at this point pertain to my Avon business, and each night I grade myself.  I am a solid ‘B’ this week.  I have also seen ‘B’ results.  So, I know that if I push for the ‘A’ then I will see equivalent results for the effort.  Remember my name, you’ll be hearing it as one of Avon’s top sellers one day, mark my word!

My mom always encourages us by reminding us that the landscape of our lives will be very different in a year, and when I look back to a year ago today, yes things are very different.  Last year at this time I was looking back yet another year to when I was, at least I thought, happily married.  I was job hunting, having been layed off and was looking for a year at that point with no real luck.  But I was happy.  I was doing laundry, cleaning, and even *gasp* cooking!  I was enjoying being home with my daughter even if she was a college student, getting to know her all over again and enjoying being someone’s wife.  My spouse was the center of my world and heart.  A year later I was living with my mom, sister and 2 nieces in a new home, my divorce was final for about 2 months and I was struggling with peeling back the layers that I had hidden myself under for 22+ years.  I was rediscovering me and in the process making some really bad choices for myself.  I was in the midst of a rebound relationship that would leave me hurting all over again.  Later I’d become a brief rebound for someone else, and be hurt yet again. I was missing what had been my home, my kids, and the life I had for such a long time.

Now here I am yet another year out and things have changed.  I am no longer an office manager, after 2 more jobs fell victim to the economy.  I am a daycare provider and Avon representative.  My days are full of putter-butter filled diapers, baby formula puke on my shoulders, Backyardigans episodes, breakfasts, carpool, lunches, naps and snacks, stamping/dating/tossing brochures, building and motivating a team, learning sales techniques that work, meetings, recruiting, selling, ordering etc.  I know what it is like to work for myself, be my own boss, make my own hours, goals and I love it.  I’ve gotten past my shy side and can more comfortably approach strangers in an effort to get my brochure and name in anyone’s hands that might be a customer or recruit.  It isn’t easy but I’m getting better! Every other week I pick a day, put all 3 car seats in my back seat and load each with a baby or toddler, then pack several hundred rolled brochures into the front seat and I’m out throwing them on drive ways.  I have a good arm and aim, the paperboy is jealous I’m sure!  It only takes about 45 minutes and sometimes I’m riding along singing to the radio, throwing those books, and surrounded by the odor of a dirty diaper on one of the kids.  I am certain one day I will find this all very amusing as I share my story of rising to the top of success.

I am in a very special relationship, one that is committed, and so different from anything I’ve ever known.  Love and respect is mutual, things are unfolding at a steady pace, not too fast and not too slow. I know what it feels like to be spoiled now, with affection, attention, and little gifts of love, and to be important to someone.  I know what respect is, and I gladly give it.  We have each other’s back and heart, and it is truly something special. (you know it has to be true love to get me to sleep in a tent for 3 nights!)  I don’t know what the future holds, and don’t want to get my hopes up too high, but when you start out from the first meeting, knowing when you look in someones eyes that you’ve met a soul mate, it’s hard not to dream just a  little. :)

Another year from now, it will be interesting to see where things sit on my life’s landscape! Some things I ‘know’, I’ll have a daughter-in-law and a step-granddaughter.  Of course that could change too I suppose but that is the one thing that looks at least like a for sure since the wedding date for my son is set.  Everything else will  have to wait to be seen.

Hump Day Happenings

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I  know I know, where is Wine & Cheese?  I’ve been trying to get myself back into the routine but there is just nothing routine about my life of late, so blogging is taking a bit of a back seat.  I promise, I’ll work on that!

I’ve had a few emails here and on Facebook wanting reports about how my camping experience turned out, so I suppose I should point out the obvious in that I am still here, alive and kicking so I survived!  No bears ate me, no sudden death from a snake or spider bite, or allergic reaction to a bee sting that didn’t occur.  Nothing bad to report at all!  I had a blast to be completely honest, so much so that it kinda scares me.  Me, the Taurean, who loves creature comforts (not to be mistaken with EXPENSIVE, that isn’t it at all we just like comfort and things), slept in a tent, on a futon mattress, covered with a sheet and used a thick blanket for warmth (and snuggled up to The Count), managed to brave some dang chilly nights and lived to tell about it.  Coffee in the tent in the morning before crawling out of bed to shower in a shower house (yes with daddy long leggers and wearing my knock-off crocs instead of flip flops), walking 6 camp sites to the bathroom, cooking metts on a stick over the fire…yes I really did have FUN!  His family is great, reminds me much of my own.

Click here to go to my Avon store

That was Thursday through Sunday.  The rest of my life is totally occupied with my daycare job by day, and my Avon business both during the day (nap time, Backyardigan’s toddler crack, etc) and working that in the evenings too.  I’ve spent a good deal of time reading some great books that are really helping me get focused and on track.  I figure if my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, can go from no job and living in a trailer park, to making $300k a year being the Avon Lady, then I can make a fairly decent living doing it while changing diapers on wee ones.  I spend a lot of time writing up the blog for that on my Avon blog page, sending daily inspiration blogs (rep-peps) to my downline, preparing brochures and distributing them, etc etc etc.  Time consuming without a doubt, but also a blast!  I made Unit Leader last campaign which was all the motivation I needed to step it up and start working harder.  I’ve written my goals as the one book suggests, and I check them daily and grade myself.  Mark my words, I will succeed.   If you are a fan of mine please, if you like Avon, help a sister out and go to my site, click ‘shop ebrochure’ on the right hand side and have a look at the current catalog right there in living color.  If you order and spend at least $10 before midnight on 10/21/11 the shipping is free (see the ad in the center of my page for the code).  Spread the word, this isn’t your grandma’s Avon, you can order from anywhere and have it shipped to you directly when you pay online.  Need some extra income? Sign up to be on my team, no territories  anymore, sell to anyone!  It isn’t your mother’s Avon either, much better.  I even do fund raiser cards where I donate a percentage to your organization whenever someone uses the card or mentions it.  If you are interested get with me I will fill you in.

So you see, when I’m not wiping noses, changing diapers, getting breakfast, lunch or snacks, watching over homework, getting plastic tomato slices out of the toy toaster, flipping laundry, and all that domestic and daycare stuff, I’m pushing vanity crack.  But I need to be here some days, writing.  My favorite therapy.  I just need some good, deep stuff to think about then write!

SPECIAL OFFER – THIS WEEK ONLY!!!

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I recently made Unit Leader and I’m in the running for President’s Club before the close of Campaign 26, but I cannot do this without help!  As in SALES!!!

If you order $30 or more on my site, it ships directly to you, FREE shipping.  Not a bad deal!  AND if you order $30 or more by midnight Friday (10/14/11), I’m going to GIVE you the Avon Naturals 5-Piece, Glazed Apple & Walnut Beauty Bundle (2 shower gels, 2 body lotions, 1 body spray), a $35 value, FREE!  When I see your order come through I will place an order for the beauty bundle and ship it to you!

Visit My Avon Store to place an order of $30 or more,  have it ship directly to you, no shipping cost, and I will send you the Beauty Bundle free!

Love Will Make You Lose Your Mind…

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This week I will return to my childhood roots and do something I have not done since high school.  It is something I swore I would NEVER do again.  But just like when my first marriage ended and I made a personal oath to never iron another man’s shirt as long as I lived, love makes us do strange things.  Actually, it causes us to take complete leave of our senses.

When I was growing up, in fact from what I am told it began shortly after I was born, my parents took us camping.  I have been all over this great country and seen so many very cool things.  Once I was in high school my parents opted to go the route of hotels when we  traveled.  I have many fond memories of camping, but some not so fond.  Sorry but creepy crawly things in the showers is not my idea of excitement or my version of communing with nature.  I  like a warm, comfortable bed, lots of pillows, climate controlled and room service.  Motel 6 is about as close to camping as I ever planned to go again.  That is all about to change.

On Saturday is the annual Stonelick State Park Halloween Campout, “Costume, pumpkin & campsite decorating contests, hayrides, trick or treat & hobo stew” and it is a family tradition in the Count’s family to be there.  In fact Mama Count is already out there, set up with the camper (a rather impressive, comfy one at that), and the Count and I will be going out Thursday through Saturday.  Originally I had said I’d drive out on Saturday for the day.  Then it became I’d stay Friday and Saturday at the local Holiday Inn Express, about 15 minutes away.  Then it was we’d stay in the camper Thursday through Sunday with Mama Count.

Me as Cruella

Now? Well plans have changed and the Count and I are staying in his 2 room tent on the site.  Yes, you read that right, a TENT.  So much for personal vows of celibacy from sleeping under the protection of canvas and a zipper, encased in a sleeping bag. He assures me that my personal comfort is his personal priority.  I’ve lost my ever lovin’ mind, the things we do for love.

I will suck it up, put on my big girl panties and have a blast.  We spent the day there Sunday helping set up camp for Mama Count and it was very nice.

I actually find myself looking forward to waking up to the sounds of nature around me and fresh coffee in the cool morning air.  Maybe not so much walking to the bathroom or showers (to once again be showering in flip flops with daddy long leggers around), but I DO have fond memories from camping as a kid so this should be a good time.  I might even pack my costume and dress up, since I have one for Cruella De Vil and it would be nice to participate.  :)

OH and don’t you know that The Count once again has surprised me with a cute  gift.  I’m going to grow spoiled rotten at this rate.  He bought me to cutest go-cup for coffee, ceramic with a black cat on it.  No reason other than he was thinking of me while out and about.  Guess that black cat is what made him think of me?  It’s funny, the man who dislikes (hates) cats, finding cute things with a black cat on it, just like my beautiful cat, Pixel.  I will be using it here at home, then taking it with me to use at camp.

I’ll be sure to write about my adventure, maybe even blog right there from the tent.

5Q Friday

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It has been awhile since I participated in this blog hop/meme, but I’m getting my days more organized now so I have a little time to jump on this one.

1. What is your go to comfort food or sweet?

2. What is the most romantic place you’ve ever been to?

3. What is your favorite thing about fall/Halloween?

4. How would you spend 24 hours alone?

5. Does you husband bring you flowers? Are you the bring-me-flowers type of girl?

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1)  What is your go to comfort food or sweet?
Comfort food is Chipotle steak bowl.  That can be when I’m down in the dumps and need to feel sorry for myself, or for celebrating when I am in a great mood.  I love that place and love the steak bowls.  As far as sweets go, chocolate is my thing.  I prefer dark chocolate but hey, when I need that sweetness to sooth things, I don’t get too picky.  Mounds Bars, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with chocolate syrup, Nestle Toll House Chips right out of the bag…any of those will do.

2)  What is the most romantic place you’ve ever been to?
It isn’t really a place, it is an atmosphere that surrounds me and The Count.  I think when we boil it down, that is the case with anyone that gives it thought.  I’ve been to ‘romantic places’ with someone and there was zero romance felt.  Something about being with Steve is romantic all  on it’s own.  Standing in  the drizzling rain at a festival, walking hand in hand at a flea market or antique mall, touring a WWII Navy ship together, or curled up against his shoulder being feed fresh strawberries by hand, those were all very romantic places.  It is what we feel between us that makes it romantic.

3)  What is your favorite thing about fall/Halloween?
I love the smell of a fireplace and it is that time of year when that smell is in the air again.  I also enjoy the colors of the leaves and mums, and being able to have the windows open and the air conditioning off.  I do not like the cold weather, but this is a good time of year when it is still warm enough to be outside without being ‘cold’.  Oh and I love the soft inside of a new sweat shirt or hoodie!  I love hoodies and pulling the first new one out last week was awesome.

4)  How would you spend 24 hours alone?
This is easy, I have done it before.  Reading, writing and sleeping.  I  use alone time as down time to recharge my personal batteries.  Sleep being first on the agenda as I am always behind on that.

5)  Does your husband bring you flowers?  Are you the bring-me-flowers type of girl?
I’m divorced now, but no, my ex was not a bring me flowers type.  Oh he did, a very few times over 22 years, he saw flowers as a complete waste of money because they die.  He preferred to buy me clothes or something that would last.  Usually if he got me flowers it was from a florist where it was cash and carry, wrapped in wax paper.  No pretty arrangement in a vase.  The cheap variety.  Advice for all of you guys out there, that screams to a woman that she has little value to you.  Part of getting flowers is the beauty of the arrangement.  Yes it costs more, but it tells her she is of worth to you.


Now, The Count, he has had flowers sent to me, for no reason other than to let me know he was thinking of me.  He periodically buys me little things that I’ve mentioned thinking were cool when we were out and about too, like the cat basket.  It looks like my cat, Pixel.  She has gold eyes, and it does too. I love those types of little things and flowers, it speaks volumes to me of what is in his heart.

So, yes I am a bring-me-flowers type of girl.  But only if it is not a day when all the other girls are getting them. I don’t want them because it is a special holiday geared to push flower sales, like Valentine’s Day or Sweetest Day.  Skip those, I boycott those days.  I want flowers out of the blue, it tells me I am special, thought of and loved.

NOT Sending In The Clown!

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My Avon business is finally starting to take off, which is a very good thing.  I know that I won’t be babysitting kids forever,  in fact I am going to be losing the 3 siblings sooner or later and will be picking up a few more when they go.  I love kids, I really do.  This is the next best thing to being a grandparent, no doubt about it.  I get to giggle, dance, watch The Backyardigans, sing and play with toys…and change diapers, feed, nap and drive car pool, but gotta take the good with the inconvenient.  But this is not what I want to be doing for a living forever.  I want my Avon business to flourish and totally rock me into a big annual income.  I know it can be done, I’m friends on Facebook with my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, who makes in excess of $300k a year as her own boss,  with her own business of Avon.  She is #4 in the country in sales with Avon, but she best be watching over her shoulder, the Marvelous one plans to knock her back a spot or two in the next few years! :)   It is a goal I know she would applaud, she is totally awesome and supportive of others like that.

Last evening I had a new recruit to sign up and begin training in having her own Avon business.  My sister was meeting one as well so we set the appointments at the same time, same place with the intent to work together.  But first, we needed dinner.  We opted for Chipotle, next to the meeting location, got our food and sat down at the bar at the window to do some people watching while we ate and brain stormed our future.  Out by the curb, on the sidewalk was someone dressed up as a clown, waving at cars, dancing, and holding up a sign advertising the Halloween store in the little strip mall we were located in.  We were enjoying watching his antics as we ate…and then sis said something that struck a nerve with me.  “If I don’t make it selling Avon, that will be me out there.”  Stop the truck, Chuck!!  NO kidding little sister, no kidding.  I know what she means, only I’d be doing the later  afternoon/early evening shift.  I tried to imagine being  dressed up as some odd ball creature, holding a sign and waving to passing cars in front of an auto dealer or oil change franchise.  Thankfully, that vision would NOT come clear in my head.  In denial I refused to visualize that at all.  No, I am NOT going to settle for being a minimum wage, live action ad.  Not that there is anything wrong with it, if that is what you have to do to pay the bills, you put on the clown suit and go make a spectacle of yourself.  I refuse to get to that point is all.  Heck, where is my brain, I should have walked out and recruited to poor soul while they may still have some dignity left.

So, watch for me, I will be at the top of the lipstick one day in the not  too distant future.  Count on it.

Grand-Clucker, Fuzzy Slippers And Wine

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My feet are all snug right now in my new slippers, all cushy, fuzzy and warm.  I’m in my jammies and have a glass of wine on the desk next to my laptop.  Celtic harp music is playing softly in the background,  I am very relaxed at the moment.

Right off I suppose I will apologize to my readers, this was a long and busy week that didn’t leave a lot of time to blog.  When I did have some time…the creativity team in my brain was on strike and I couldn’t come up with much of anything to write about.  That sucks when you are feeling the NEED to write and nothing is there.  I also have been very busy soaking up information like a sponge for my Avon business, reading everything I could find from those ladies that are at the top in sales, after all they are in the ‘know’ when it comes to how to do this and make great money.  My idol is Lisa Wilber, making over $300,000 a year (yes she has proven this by displaying her income tax return at conventions and speaking engagements), has much out there so I’ve been all over her site, blog, and online documents for tips and I’m finding great stuff.  Mark my words, I WILL be a huge success at this, I LOVE doing it, have a blast working it, and I want to be debt free and make a lot of money.  If you know me you know that if I get stubborn about something, I own it.

I often talk about my grand-dog, Penny, my daughter’s adorable little yorkie.  I call her the grand-dog because neither of my kids are yet married or have produced off spring.  I DO prefer they get things in the correct order and wed before they start producing little versions of themselves, so no rush.  I currently have 3 grand-dogs,   multiple grand-hamsters and gerbils, grand-bunnies, a grand-bird, grand-fish, grand-frogs….lots of grand-critters many of you might have.  But how many of you can lay claim to a grand-clucker?  Yes, as in a chicken.  Ellie Mae Jenkins is my grand-clucker.

Ellie Mae Jenkins - my grand-clucker

Yes my wonderful, vet-tech daughter has all of those grand-critters (except for one of the dogs which is my son’s, a min-pin named Elvis), including the chicken.  Her chickens (2 of them) lay eggs which is rather cool.  Oh, and um…they wear diapers.  Yep, she actually found diapers for chickens and purchased one.  It seems this enables her to have said bird in the house should she so desire.  I know I know, the poor kid is in need of therapy.  I blame her father.  Not that the ex did anything wrong or is a bad dad….but never claim responsibility for the freak-gene, always lay the blame on the other parent’s gene pool.  I am not sure which I find more disturbing…that she has pet chickens, that they wear diapers, or that she gives them full names!  I love that child.

I  surprised myself today.  Have you ever been out to eat and seen some lone soul dinning at a table and felt sorry for them?  I have, and have thought that there was no way I could be out to eat by myself, it would be awful.  Well I stand corrected.  I needed to meet with a new recruit for her second training session today, so I chose a restaurant that I dearly loved in the past when the ex and I used to ride the Harley on a nice, weekend morning.  My recruit lives nearby so I decided to go there.  I arrived way earlier than our meeting time because I had finished all of my other to-do list items.  I still had some work to do, fund raiser letters to sign and stuff in envelopes and address, and some reading to do.  Feeling light headed because it is after noon, and I had not eaten yet today, I ordered lunch.  Honestly I wanted to wait on the recruit but it is tricky to train while passed out from lack of nutrition.  I finished my paperwork before the food arrived so I spent my time stuffing my face while I read a motivational sales book.  At one point it dawned on me that there I was, all alone, eating lunch and not only did it not feel weird, it was kind of nice!  I had peace and was able to just relax for a bit doing two things I enjoy…reading and eating!

Now I am wrapping up the day sipping my glass of wine and thinking an early bedtime is in order.  Big day tomorrow touring a mansion with my honey, and I am way behind on sleep so snuggling in deep and visiting dreamland sounds like a good idea to me.