Tag Archive | Shopping

Soggy Doggies & Other Oddities

May22

My sister and I were invited to attend a leadership trip to Avon’s Zanesville, Ohio, distribution plant today.  We had to leave home at 4:45am, so right about now (6:16pm) I am ready to pass out from exhaustion.  This was a total and complete honor for us, and OMG was this amazing!

As is usually the case with the two of us, we had entirely too much fun on the ride up there.

We stopped at a McDonald’s to grab more coffee and use the ladies room.  WOW, have things  changed since I had small children.  I closed the stall door to a spacious ‘potty’ spot, sat down and found myself looking at a chair mounted on the inside of the door, complete with straps.  Frankly that  kinda creeped me the heck out.   Oh don’t get me wrong, having had to use the bathroom with a small child in tow in my distant past, I get the need and the idea is really a good one as it keeps the little  crumb crunchers out of trouble in a germ infested area.  But my first, very sideways and wrong thought, was “oh, a midget bondage chair!”  Yes, I know, wrong and sick.  My Biker appreciated the sick humor when I shot him a picture of my view from the top of Mount  porcelain.

We got lost, sort of, thanks to mapquesting the directions.  We left the highway 2 exits too soon and the address turned out to be a high school.  But that is okay, because while driving through that area we found some rather interesting businesses.  One called the Splash And Dash car wash.  Next door to that is the Soggy Doggy pet groomer.  The topper was the strip bar in what appears to have been an old church.  Ice the cake with what appeared to be life size iron sheep, horses,  cowboys and some other barnyard critters on the one sidewalk, and well you have one very interesting little town.  We were in tears from laughing.

The rest of the day was, to us Avon reps, the beauty industry version of crack for druggies!  It is a fabulous distribution center, high tech, and totally amazing!  It makes me appreciate what I do for a living all the more.  It was a huge shot in my mojo.  Doesn’t hurt that all of us that went are a peppy group of ladies bursting with excitement for the brand, Avon.

See what one misses when they don’t run with a totally crazy person like myself?  :)

OMG! WTF?

May18

I’m not even certain randomness is a word, though spell checker isn’t flagging it so I suppose that it is indeed.

I am SO thankful it is Friday.  Been missing my Biker this week, work and life getting in the way of our fun.  But the weather is going to be outstanding so my hope is a lot of throttle therapy.  Frankly I’d settle for some serious snuggle therapy and a few naps, I’m exhausted.

My vampire hours are back, oh the joy.  I expected it last night, between my mind being an over active jumble of thoughts and the Mucinex I took for my stuffy nose it was a sure fired way to be awake half the night.  When I was sleeping it was a lot of screwed up, fitful Twilight Zone style dreams I could have lived without.  It gave me plenty of time to lay there contemplating the bizarre  stuff I see in life that leaves my face contorted in  puzzled thought.

Example…do people not realize that when inside their car, unless they have tinted windows, they are still visible?    I’ve noticed a good number of people cleaning their ears with keys (not a safe practice by the way), shaving,  applying makeup, and picking their nose, examining what was extracted then snacking on said item (stomach turning), sneezing into their hands and wiping in  on the seat or their shirt sleeve…seriously people, knock that nasty crap off!

Ladies, unless your rear luggage rack is in excellent condition, do NOT wear white pants/shorts.  And under NO circumstances should you wear anything that is a mix of spandex.  Yes, curves are sexy to some men, like my honey.  Others, like the ex-spouse think twigs are hot.  Now, what I am about to say is acceptable coming from me, as I have a somewhat over sized load back there:  if you have a large caboose white pants do  not make you look fresh and summer like. They make you look like a major appliance that grew legs.  There is nothing appealing about looking like a refrigerator wrapped in white plastic.  Be comfy in your skin and all that, but  please learn how to dress in ways that compliment your curves.

Gentlemen…what is the fascination with reading in the bathroom???  It is the least comfortable place in any home or office and yet when they need to spend any amount of time in there, most every man I know grabs the sports page or a magazine and struts off  to the commode.  Shortly after the work day started and they had consumed their first cups of coffee, the guys in the office could all be seen making their way to the men’s room with a portion of the newspaper or a trade magazine under the arm.  Come on fellas, we all know what you are doing in there, and it ain’t going to smell pleasant, why would you want to linger over the baseball scores from last night?  Can you seriously not find a better place to call “the library”?  Especially when it is obviously a group activity based on the numbers entering.  If you need to be in there long enough to read anything of length perhaps you should consider an increase of fiber in your diet to move things along.  Get in, get out, and use some air freshner for the sake of all following you in there, please!

One last peeve…when standing in line at the grocery, thumbing through magazines, please do NOT LICK YOUR DAMN FINGERS to turn the page unless you are buying it!  That is just nasty and gross! Not to mention you may be picking up the germs left by the last digit-licker that browsed through it.  Same goes with wetting the finger tips to then count out paper money…you don’t know where those bills have been and that poor cashier  doesn’t want to handle the money after you’ve slimmed it.  Besides, she may give it to me, the next one in line, in my change and then I’m going to run you down with my shopping cart!

Create A Crime Scene: Multi-Task Monday

May7

Over the weekend my Biker and I escaped for some ‘us’ time.  We were multi-tasking, getting some R&R and planning our wedding.  We found the perfect place, picked a weekend and booked the event.  Now all my prayer warriors out  there,  PRAY it is a weekend of gorgeous weather on that September weekend because the wedding is outside and a ride is planned  for the next day since there will be a bunch of bikers present.  The location is beautiful, I am SO excited.

While there that evening, we were enjoying a few beers before retiring for some much needed sleep.  Sitting outside on the deck of the restaurant, enjoying live music, my honey went up and requested a song.  Then, in front of everyone there, pulled me out of my chair to dance.  No dance floor, no one else dancing, just us beside our table, because he felt like dancing with me.  I love this man!!!  The next day made me love him more when he got a taste of that temper that supposedly is why the ex divorced me.  He didn’t get mad, offended, or tell me how terrible I am.  My Biker laughed!  He loved me off that edge but still will laugh if it comes up.  He called me his fire cracker, and just doesn’t see what the big deal is, even when I got pissed off and flipped him off, he still laughed and said I’m down right adorable.  It took very little loving from him to totally defuse my anger and make things all better.  He was so sweet about it that it made  me cry, because he totally understood why I was ticked off but instead of going off on me opted to kiss and hold me.

So today,  I’m multi-tasking my Monday away.  Planning wedding details,  working on my Avon business, doing office manager work for my Biker’s company, baby-sitting, and still managed to create a make-believe crime scene in the bathtub.  In other words, I dyed my hair today.  My roots were starting to get out of hand and it was fading some from so much time in the sun on the back of my baby’s Harley the past 3 weekends.  Trouble is when you dye your hair a deep, reddish brown,  it looks like blood in the shower when you rinse out the color after the specified time for the dye to work it’s magic.  Kinda expect to hear the music from “Psycho” playing in the background.  I may have to purchase this shower curtain, it is cool and would be just quirky enough to fit into our home.

I LOVE MY HAIR COLOR!!!!

Apr13

Yes I DO love it, Avon Advanced Techniques Professional Hair Color in Medium Mahogany Brown 5.65, it ROCKS!

I  know I have talked about it before, but I LOVE this product so much!  It gives me a GORGEOUS auburn color that has held up very nicely with very little fading.  I also use Advanced Techniques Color Lock treatment every day to ensure I keep my rich, outstanding color.  And to think I spend my  life as a natural blond, when I’m finding out a sassy red-head has every bit as much fun as those sporting golden locks, and quite possibly even more.

I’ve also been so pleased with the skin care regimen I used from Avon, and the make-up, that I have to share this proof-photo from my son’s March 17th wedding.  No airbrushing, just ME with the skin getting smoother thanks to Avon Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid (on sale in Campaign 9 for just $20!!!!).  If you know me you know how often I photo-shopped my personal photos, hating the pits in my face from adult acne in my 30′s.  I was skeptical to say the least about the effectiveness of this product, but they say it is 79% as effective as a professional, microdermabrasion and I’m here to tell you that I am never going a day without this product again.  You can see for yourself how great my skin is looking thanks to Avon skin care and make-up.  I’m sold.

YOU are welcome to try them for yourself through my personal Avon store or, if you’d rather NOT pay retail, contact me via my store site and become an Avon Independent Sales Rep yourself!  Save money AND make money in a job where you set the  hours, you are the boss, you determine how much you want to make!  No matter where you are in the United States, I can train you and mentor you in your business!

Here is what I use every single day with product numbers:

Face Cleanser, morning & evening – Anew Reversalist Renewal Foaming Cleasner (622-098)

Followed, morning & evening by - Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid (415-423)

Next up, morning & evening – Anew Reversalist Renewal Serum (338-247)

Daytime is followed by my moisturizer – Anew Reversalist Day Renewal Cream SPF25 (247-307)

Around my eyes, morning and evening – Anew Reversalist Illuminating Eye System (245-213)

I follow up on the eyes, with Anew Genics Eye Treatment, as of a few weeks ago before this ph0to, (013-849)

At night time, after the Renewal Serum dries, I use Anew Genics Night Treatment Cream (472-887)

Okay here it is, the photo I spoke of, and if I do  say so myself, I don’t think I look my age (49yo here very soon).  My biker honey says I don’t but then he IS a bit biased.

100 Marvelous Facts About Me

Mar24

I’m in a totally fragmented, random kind of mood.  Nothing deep, just typically odd for me.  I’m freaky like that.  Some call me weird, I say gifted.   Regardless of how you define it, I’m so very unique.  Quirky, fun, funny, odd, sarcastic, kind, loving, forgiving….yeah like that.  I have NO idea where this is headed, just random things in my brain.  Consider it a peek into the garden, and be thankful. I don’t open that gate often to the world.

  1. If it is pink, it will catch my eye immediately.
  2. If by chance it is pink and has any amount of bling, I’m on it like a fat kid on a cupcake.
  3. I am fairly certain I am ADD, based on studies regarding stimulants & treating ADD, caffeine and adults.  I over consume but yet sleep even on a full pot of java.
  4. I am OCD about a few things…the bed has to be made for me to get in it, I will check the stove multiple times before I go out of the door, it may be hanging in the art museum but if a picture is crooked, I will straighten it.
  5. I mix my veggies in my mashed potatoes.
  6. Ketchup on roast = awesome.
  7. I snore.
  8. Everybody poops.  At least that is what the book claims, but I cannot prove it as I’ve yet to take a poll on the  matter.
  9. I am not an abstract thinker so I cannot do algebra.  I need concrete stuff to get my head wrapped around it.
  10. I have a big butt.  Hey, I do, why deny it. I can live with it.
  11. I have big boobs too, thanks to the ex and my surgeon.
  12. I love wind chimes.
  13. I think true beauty in a person is what they look like in the dark.
  14. If you don’t understand #13….you aren’t for me.
  15. Coffee is it’s own food group. So is chocolate.  Both are on the bottom of my food pyramid.
  16. One of my favorite things is chubby baby feet.
  17. I drink my coffee black.
  18. I prefer diet colas, cannot handle the sweetness of regular.
  19. I buy wine based on the amusing labels.  If it tastes good to me, I’ll buy it again. I don’t care about the price.
  20. I  just stopped in the middle of this to dust the box fan in my room because it needed it.
  21. I am afraid of the dark so I need a nightlight.
  22. I sleep with a teddy bear, wrapped around it just like a kid.
  23. I actually read and follow the washing instruction tags on all of my clothes.
  24. I only did the laundry when I was married because the ex did NOT read the tags.
  25. Tanning was a way to fight depression during the winter for me. I miss it.
  26. Procrastination is my middle name.
  27. My best work has always been accomplished at hour 11.5
  28. My cat always bathes herself before going to bed. I think this is wise, one just never knows….
  29. Grandma said wear clean undies in case you are in an accident…I just don’t bother wearing any, hee hee hee.
  30. I need a line item in my budget for over due library books.
  31. Reading is an addiction, I will get a quick fix reading shampoo bottles in the shower if necessary.
  32. My lucky number is 13.
  33. Don’t piss me off, you will end up in my novel.
  34. Christmas is my favorite time of the year/holiday.
  35. I despise being cold, but love snow for the beauty…from inside sipping coffee.
  36. I HATE surprise parties, do it and I WILL walk out.  Try me.
  37. Not real big on surprises at all to be honest.
  38. I believe in ‘ghosts’ and think some are demons, some are dead folks that won’t move on.
  39. I hate  wearing shoes, but don’t like being bare foot.  I go through a LOT of footie socks.
  40. I love tattoos.
  41. I have a nose ring, a small little ‘diamond’ but one day will have the real deal.
  42. I’m considering getting my eyebrow pierced.  I don’t really know why, just want too.
  43. Sometimes I spray pink in  my hair, because I LIKE it.
  44. I’m a reformed cat hater.
  45. I’m about 1 bad relationship away now from owning 12 cats.
  46. I am very allergic to cats.
  47. I own a cat.  We’re a package deal.
  48. I love post-it-notes, in anything adorable or pink, not because I  need them I just buy them cause they are cool.
  49. I love anything Hello Kitty, but I’m only just beginning to collect such items.
  50. I’m allergic to bee stings, not deathly, at least not yet, but it is progressing each time.
  51. I cannot, in conversation, just get to the point.  Believe me there is a reason for what color underwear someone was wearing in a retelling of a story that has nothing at all to do with ones drillies.  It makes sense to me so don’t interrupt.
  52. If I don’t write it in my planner/calendar,  it isn’t real likely to happen.
  53. I love the term “fartin shimmy” and I know what one is.
  54. My favorite flowers are equally lavender, pink and yellow roses.
  55. I gave someone a lap dance once to earn their beads – a really cool set of fire fighter ones.  No, you cannot have them.
  56. I’ve posed naked for photos (in my early/mid 40′s), they were published on 2 websites.  Yes I still have them. NO you may not see them.
  57. Because I’m afraid of the dark, very afraid, I keep a flashlight right by my bed. It needs NO batteries, and it’s a cat, eyes light up :)
  58. I’m terrified of storms when they get severe or loud.
  59. I’m terrified of fire, so I will not live in a house that I cannot easily escape from via windows that are not too high up.
  60. I change smoke alarm batteries far more often than necessary.
  61. I’ve been told I talk some in my sleep.  I wouldn’t know for sure, I’m asleep when this occurs.
  62. I have a piggy bank.  It is not pink, as this one matches my bedroom, but I actually do put money in it.  I love it.
  63. If what my ex tells me, that sexy is 90% attitude, then I ooze sexy from all of my pores.
  64. I want to live to be 100 years old.
  65. I’ve always gotten along better with men than women.
  66. My shower gel, body lotion, skin softner, deodorant and cologne…are all the same scent.  It’s just one way I roll.
  67. I don’t hold a grudge forever, even when I try.  I’m just too forgiving of a person.
  68. I prefer to be at peace with all people if at all possible.
  69. There are 2 people on the face of this earth that you can note a significant rise in blood pressure just by mentioning my name.  I’m powerful like that! :)
  70. I currently cannot see a damn thing. I own ‘hoopty’ spectacles.  One arm on my glasses broke and I’ve not replaced them or my contact lenses to date.  Another way I roll.
  71. Yes, I really was part of the swinger lifestyle once.
  72. It is very unlikely I will ever run for public office.  (see #56 and 71 – enough said)
  73. I don’t get emotionally attached to things anymore, as the ones that should have meant something (like my wedding rings etc) proved worthless in meaning.
  74. I am a reformed pack rat.
  75. “All a girl really wants is for one guy to prove to  her that they are not all the same.” ~ Marilyn Monroe.  I’m still waiting.
  76. I’m perfectly imperfect.
  77. I’m looking for the guy that will love every imperfect part of me, and find it all to be perfectly adorable and love worthy.
  78. Inside this woman that is so confident, sexy, brazen at times and fun on the outside, is an inner child that is shy, scared and needs to be loved unconditionally.
  79. I believe the minute you start finding fault with someone you ‘love’, you’ve begun applying conditions to your love, you show that you don’t love them, but want to mold them and control them.
  80. While I do enjoy being around people, a lot, I am somewhat of a loner at times too.
  81. < – that is the year I graduated from high school.
  82. I have been in 3 countries outside of the U.S.
  83. I’ve been in about 40 of the states in this country.
  84. There is SO much to see right here in the land I love that I would be happy just traveling around seeing it all here!
  85. I LOVE light houses.  My favorite is the one in Cape Hatteras.
  86. I believe that the beach is God’s therapy couch for us, and the sounds of the waves hitting the shore are the most soothing of stress.
  87. In 54 days  I will be 49 years old.  This bugs me way the hell more than turning 50 will.
  88. Every once in a while I enjoy reading a really trashy romance novel.
  89. I struggle with my weight, goes with being a Taurus…we love food.
  90. It’s important to me to be able to achieve my goals and be financially independent.  It isn’t that  I don’t want to be loved and cared for, but I never want to NEED a man to support me.
  91. No man ever keeps me.  They gain my heart, then suck my love dry  and leave me.
  92. I still believe in true love, the forever kind of love.  Just not sure it is meant for me.  Once  the infatuation wears off, they don’t really love me after all.
  93. My dream table would have at least 12 settings of china, each one different from the next.  Each a complete place setting, but no two alike.
  94. I’m working on my bucket list.  Not that I plan to die soon, I want to live to be 100, but time IS going forward.
  95. I enjoy all genres of music…the mood I am in or  I want  to be in, or the atmosphere I wish to create dictates what I am listening too.
  96. I hate plucking my eyebrows, it makes my eyes water like crazy, so I just shave them, CAREFULLY.
  97. Over the past 2 years I’ve learned that happiness is the journey, and a decision, not a destination.  No wonder I’m happy.
  98. I love my family something fierce.  I will protect them even if I don’t agree with their choices.
  99. Sometimes I sleep with music on softly on one of the music channels (Sound Scapes), it helps me unwind if I’m stressed out.
  100. This has not even put a scratch in the surface of who I  am….

PRODUCT REVIEW: Avon Advanced Techniques Professional Hair Color

Mar13

Back in the 70′s, Avon sold hair color.  I’m not certain why but they stopped at some point.

Beginning in campaign 9, Avon is once again in the home hair color business.  As representatives we were given a free product, color of our choice, to try.  Being natural blondes around here, we are touching up roots often, as we dye our hair a cherry-cola color.  Red dye fades a bit fast, and when your roots are naturally very light, as they come in it can make your hair look like it is thinning rapidly.

My sister, Jeannette, and I use the same color from John Frieda.  We both chose the same color from Avon, that is closest to what we were using.  This is our review:

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Avon Advanced Techniques Professional Hair Color used:  Medium Mahogany Brown 5.65

Marti:  I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical about this product.  Until last November I had never ‘dyed’ my hair.  I am a natural blond and I’ve had highlights done for years, but back around Thanksgiving I decided to go ‘cherry cola’ in color.  As I have no experience, my sister dyes my hair for me.  She has been coloring hers and her daughters for years.  With 4 days to go til my son’s wedding, I figured I was nuts to do this, unsure what to expect,, but my roots needed done so figured what the heck, we have the free color from Avon, let’s give it a shot.  Since it was going to be a bit different, we opted to dye it as a color change.  Both of us used the same color tonight.

Jeannette:  Having used and applied well over 10 different brands of home hair colorant over the years (likely everything on the market), this is the most unique I have ever come across.   Never have I heard of or seen a pre-treatment with hair color.  The rule was start out with clean, dry hair.  I was skeptical as this pretreatment made the hair kind of wet.  That worried me, as I know how hard it is to get the colorant from root to tip of the hair, but when I actually applied the color mix, it was very easy to coat the hair, root to end.  It felt a bit like applying a thick oil to the hair and it went on VERY evenly.

Marti:  The first thing I noticed was the pleasant smell.  Usually dye has a harsh smell, but this was very nice.  I could also feel the difference as Jeannette was applying the color to my hair, a slick, thick, almost oily feeling.  Not at all what I was used to with the foam colors.

Jeannette:  As the person applying I am having to step back several times from the intense chemical smell of dyes, but this time I had no problem at all.  It didn’t irritate my nose or eyes, and does in fact have a fairly nice smell to it.  Also, when dying hair, you end up getting it on skin to some degree at the hair line.  A trade secret my daughter taught me was to use a little dye from my hair to rub on the skin to wipe it off any residual color, with cotton or a tissue (dye removes dye).  However, this wiped right off, without any hard rubbing, very easily on a tissue!

Marti:  After the processing time, my next surprise was the post-treatment.  WOW!  It is thick, almost like a soft margarine, and felt amazing in my hair!  I couldn’t believe how great my hair felt after as well, very soft as opposed to a dry, straw like feeling I’m used too after coloring.

Jeannette:  I was really happy how it didn’t drip during processing and it rinses out very easily!  And that post-treatment, feels like whipped butter, rinses out super easily, and even my hands are soft from it!  Both of us have soft, shiny hair too, which is something I have never seen with other brands.  It is multi-tonal as well, like natural hair color.  As the light hits it you see reds, browns etc, varying shades like you would if this was your own hair and not an applied color.

We are both highly impressed, and cannot say enough about it!  Once again, Avon has surpassed our expectations!

Your results may not be the same as our own, we can only speak for ourselves from our experience.  We will be using this again!!!

Monday Listicles – 10 Reasons Women Will Always Win

Mar12

10 Reasons Women Will Always Win

  1. The likelihood of tears getting us out of a speeding ticket is significantly higher.
  2. We just look better in our man’s dress shirt and nothing else than he does.  Slap on some lace top thigh highs and heels and we pretty much rule the world.
  3. If we get drunk and dance on the table tops or the bar, it’s hot.
  4. We never need to go have our backs waxed/shaved.
  5. We can own 2 cats and no one thinks twice.
  6. We get there SO much faster because asking for directions isn’t going to make us less of a woman.
  7. Sooner or later we always can get our way through pouting and nagging.
  8. In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation or lifeboats, we’re first!
  9. In a bar, we never have to have money, free drinks from strange guys are a given.
  10. When all else fails, we have boobs.

Meet Me On Monday

Mar5

It’s Meet Me on Monday!  If you tweet out your blog post, feel free to add #MMOM to your tweets and Acting Balanced will try to retweet for everyone from @chascouponmom

Based on the original Meet Me on Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old, she’ll post 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers!  If you have suggestions for next week’s questions please feel free to leave a comment or shoot her a message on twitter or on the Acting Balanced Facebook Page

Here are today’s Questions:
1. What is on your bedside table?
2. Hardback, Paperback or E-Reader?
3. What is your ‘go to’ drink of choice?
4. How do you like to spend your birthday?
5. Finish this sentence – I would never be caught dead in …

Answer them on your blog and link up by clicking the icon below.

Acting Balanced

1.  What is on your bedside table?

I don’t have one, my vanity is sitting next to the bed.  On it is a collection of my nightly/daily skin care regimen products, 2 lamps, the dock for my cell phone that makes it double as a clock over night, my flash light hangs from one side of the mirror (cut kitten flash light because I am that cool as to have one) and the control for the electric blanket.

2.  Hardback, Paperback or E-Reader?

All of the above based on the availability of the book in either format.  I prefer my Kindle these days because it is easily slipped in my purse and my entire reading library is with me on the go.  Not to mention how many books fit on one as opposed to finding a place to put them in the house.

3.  What is your ‘go to’ drink of choice?

Well that depends.  For an adult beverage either beer or wine.  The rest of the day it is diet coke or coffee.  I know, I need to drink more water.

4.  How do you like to spend your birthday?

With friends and family, relaxed and NOT a big fuss made over it.  I hate surprises and so a surprise party would not make me happy. I’m just a low key type when it comes to that.

5.  Finish this sentence – I would never be caught dead in…

I would never be caught dead in….wow I have no idea.  I am sure there is something, something that if I were caught dead in it, because I was dead someone would have put me in it, I’d have to come back and haunt them.  But not sure what it is at the moment.

~*~

Fairy Who?

Feb11

This has been a really busy, trying week.

First – I’ve changed the 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks to simply Reasons Being Single Rocks.  Not that I cannot come up with 365, there are 365 days in a year, 366 this year, and every day I have a reason why I am glad I am single!  But I don’t always have time to post so it’s better to be able to not keep it to a post a day. But don’t worry I have plenty more coming that will likely exceed 365 as time goes on.

That book, Crazy Time, is awesome!  The more I read the more I see how normal I was throughout the entire process, and how I’m not quite at the end of things just yet.  It has been such a help and supportive to me in my decision to not date this whole year.

My car is…well I don’t know to be honest.  At the moment a choice selection of obscenities comes to mind but that won’t fix anything.  And I’m no mechanic.  Seeings as how the ex husband released me to move on to another opportunity*, and I have no desire any longer to pursue another opportunity, my car is going to be sitting there for a bit.  I have no idea what is wrong with it and don’t really have time or the funds at the moment to mess with it.

The auto issue IS a sticky one, as I was about to start working part time an evening or two a week for a friend in their office catching up their filing that is well very behind and some other miscellaneous office work.  As I lack the transportation to get there…yeah. FAIL!  However this simply means the Lord has something better in mind for me so I’m thanking Him now for that lost opportunity and waiting on what He has in store.

Meanwhile I’m waiting for my fangs to grow.  I am having such a difficult time with sleep lately.  I go to bed exhausted, sleep deep, then wake up a few hours later, in the middle of the night, and cannot get back to sleep.  When I finally do drift off I’m not snoozing deeply and wake up over and over every 20 minutes or so.  My sister-in-law, Trina, refers to these as our vampire phases.  If I’m going to go through a vampire phase, then I want my fangs and the very cool, sexy black clothing.  It’s only fair.

My “One Word” for this year is JOY.  Finding JOY in all things, God first and every person and situation in my life.  Believe it or not, I just kinda rolled with it when the car became an issue.  WOW, really? Okay whatever, next!  I amaze even myself at the way I am rolling with the punches.

I signed a new recruit today, that excited me a great deal.  My goal is to have 100 in my first generation of my down-line by the end of this year.  I currently have 14 with this recruit.  28 total in my 3 generations but I want 100 in the first.  It means I have a lot of work to do.  I need to sign 5 recruits per campaign between now and the end of the year, and really more than that as some will drop off.  SO if you are thinking about becoming an Avon representative, now is a great time to contact me!  Even if you are not in the area, I can still sign you up on my team and train you no matter where you are, thanks to technology!

My son is getting married in just over a month, I still have to find a dress (don’t panic anyone, can you say resale shop or rental? yes I mean that).  I have to fund half of the rehearsal dinner too, a little more difficult as I have no sugar daddy but I’ll manage it.  Meanwhile feel free to help a sister out and buy some Avon!  Seriously it does help me a lot.  If you are local (within the 275 loop) I’ll gladly deliver!  Others enjoy the opportunity to shop with me online!  Your business is very much appreciated. :)

Has anyone seen my Fairy God-Mother?  She is obviously incompetent and I have her pink slip waiting for her.

Guess if I want something done right, I’m going to have to slap on my tiara and wings and go do it myself! ;)

*I must thank my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, for that description of divorce, it cracks me up and sounds so much nicer than saying that the *&^%$# booted this princess from the castle.

Why Not YOU?

Feb10

We all need it, mad money.  That little bit of extra cash that allows us to buy lunch out at the office now and then, go out for a drink at happy hour, or to a matinee on the weekend.  Maybe you need it to take the kids to dinner or an  indoor water park on a snowy day.  Or maybe you need more than that, you need a part time income to supplement your family budget.  After all, many workers haven’t seen a raise in a few years and things are getting tighter by the day.  Maybe, like me, you lost your job when the economy tanked and need a full time income.

Why not try Avon?  Why NOT you, and why NOT today?

Save money on childcare by being HOME while you work to build your own business.  Set you own hours, be your own boss.

Alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics were the things during the depression that INCREASED in sales.  In every bad economy those things are on the rise.  We gals can live with being poor, but we’re going to look darn good doing it!  And when money is tight people change their spending habits.  Avon offers quality products in cosmetics, jewelry, fashion, every day, bath and body and more, that are top of the line.  They can do everything those expensive department store brands can for a considerable savings.  Don’t be mistaken, higher price does not mean better quality.  And with Avon, your customers have the convenience of shopping from their seat and not their feet.

You earn 20-50% commission based on your sales, so you can make as little or as much as you want.  Even if you just purchased your family’s needs (bath products, hair care, cosmetics, lotions/moisturizers) you’d have enough in sales to get quite a commission!  Our sales are always outstanding in the brochures, and as an independent sales  representative for Avon you would be getting those great sale items at an additional 20-50% savings!

$10-$20 to start, and that is ALL you need.  That small fee ($10 if you are local to me, $20 if you sign up online) gets you everything you need to launch your very own at-home business.  There is a wonderful amount of online training (free!) and you would be in my downline so you would get lots of help and training from me as well.  I use Skype to connect with my out of the area team members and for them to be able to attend the team meetings every 2 weeks!  With Avon you truly are in business for yourself, but not  by yourself.

I am always looking for ambitious men and women (some of our top sellers are men!) to join my team.  Why not you, why NOT today?

To join my team and start working for yourself, just go to START AVON and sign up with the code:  MARTIGARDNER

You will receive everything you need in 5-7 days to begin working for yourself.

Skeptical?  I’ve met those women making 6 figures in Avon.  Just check out Barb Avery, her and her husband got there in less than 2 years!  Watch her video on her site, “Our Story” for how they did it.  YOU can do this too!

Sign up today and join my team, I’d love to have YOU!

#37 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

Feb6

Remote Wars

#37

Never having to fight over the TV remote.

No one comes in and says something rude like “OMG you aren’t really watching THIS are you?”

No one picks up the remote during your show, or favorite commercial and changes the channel.

No need to hide the remote or remove the batteries.

It’s all yours!

I could only find the photo, not the place to actually order this adorable, universal remote. But I want one!

#35 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

Feb4

Scheduling Conflicts

#35

Never having to get back to anyone after you chase down your S/O to find out if you are available for parties, showers, movies, whatever it is that needs to be done.

No one bitches because you have to work late, conveniently, on the night of your mother-in-law’s birthday extravaganza…the one that you’d rather have a root canal without the benefit of numbing medications than attend.

It’s YOUR schedule, you fill it in or leave open space as you see fit.

Proceed To Party!!!

Feb2

I love a good party, but face it the cleaning before hand, then after it is over, the making of all those yummy foods…it can make being a hostess a real chore.  Now if you are hosting a party for a friend in a direct selling business, or booking a party from one you attended, then it can be even harder because you have to find an available date with the rep and hope people that RSVP that they are coming actually show up!  But the hostess gifts are always nice and that makes us want to do this all the more.

What if you could host such a party, earn FREE stuff, and not have the hassles?  No need to clean the house, no food to prepare, no hoping that your friends will have time to be at your party.  What if it was an eParty and it lasted a week or so?

Want to earn some FREE AVON?  Then I have a proposition for you!

You host an eParty with me and you get to earn free product of your choice!

It doesn’t matter where you live, once your eParty closes I let you know how much free Avon you can purchase. You place your order with me and I ship it to you at no charge! :)

Party Total      Your Earnings:
$100-$149            10% in FREE product
$150-$299           15% in FREE product
$300-$499           20% in FREE product
$500 &  up            25% in FREE product

Contact me to set up your eParty!

#33 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks!

Feb2

SHOWER

#33

If you are male, there are possibly a grand total of 3 products in the shower: shampoo, soap/body wash, shaving gel/cream.

If you are female…the number is infinite at best!

Because we are in a different mood every morning, and our mood dictates the scent we want to wear, there are countless possibilities for body wash.

We have different shampoo for different reasons as well.

Male or female…if single, the shower is YOUR domain, as much or as few products as you please will grace your tub and shelves.

And it is always just as you like it, NO complaints!

NO this is not our bathroom. It is from Ugly House Photos, click photo to go there!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid

Feb1

I am a complete skeptic, as stated in early posts, when it comes to the promises made by skin care lines.  Yes even Avon, and they are my bread and butter.  But after trying the Reversalist regimen from the Avon Anew line, well I was sold that yes indeed, it did wonders for my skin.

In Campaign 4, Avon releases the latest product in the Anew line, in conjunction with the 20 year anniversary of the introduction of the Anew line of products.  This new product is Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid.  Avon says it is “79% as effective as a professional microdermabrasion”.  My skepticism was on full on alert.  We were given samples of this product at our last district sales meeting so I took it home and decided before I tried to sell my customers on this I’d try it for myself.

I have some deep pitting around my chin and lower jawline from battling adult acne in my early 30′s and would love to be able to afford a microdermabrasion treatment for it, or a quick lift face lift.  But I am nervous about any cosmetic surgical procedure and they are pricy.  So imagine my delight when I started to see improvements in my skin from using this product!

The first morning my skin did feel amazing.  I’m 2 weeks into this addition to my regular skin care regimen and I LOVE this product.  Yes, there is a visible difference, the over all look of my troubled skin is improved.  I am looking forward to seeing what 8-10 weeks out will look like.  I am completely sold on this product and highly recommend it.  I love when I try something and can tell my customers that yes it really does what it says!  The texture of my skin is much better.

Anew Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid is available in Avon Campaign 4, for an introductory price of $20.  Normally $38 it is on sale this one time, you do not want to miss this.  A little bit goes a very long way!

It is available through my Avon online store now!!! Orders of $30 or more ship FREE.  And remember, Avon has a satisfaction guarantee, if you are not happy with the product they will refund your money.

#32 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

Feb1

Coffee – IS Good To The Last Drop

#32

No one takes the last cup of coffee, or ‘almost’ last cup, and leaves a swallow or an empty pot behind.

Nothing sucks like wanting a cup and discovering the last person (and only other person in the house that drinks coffee) took it all and didn’t make more.

Hot coffee, you always know exactly how much is left!

#27 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks!

Jan27

Toilet Seat

#27

One nice thing about being single, male or female:

The toilet seat is always just as you left it!

Leave it up, it stays put.

Leave it down, and there it will be next time you use the bathroom.

Personally, I prefer to keep the lid closed, keeps cats from drinking from it and from knocking things IN to the commode.

#26 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks!

Jan26

Jammies!

#26

Pajamas are all about practical.

You wear flannel or fleece to be comfortable.

You can answer the front door in them if the door bell rings without giving anyone heart failure.

Nick & Nora are far less expensive than Victoria Secret.

Your dog or cat couldn’t care less what you look like crawling into bed.

Nick & Nora will actually be worn…more than 5 minutes.

Jammies – all about YOU!

Practical, comfy jammies

5 Question Friday

Jan20

Click this photo ^^ to link up!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP!
Questions for Friday, January 20th:
1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks?

2. Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van?

3. Have you ever been to Vegas?

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket?

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you’ve ever had?

————————————————–

1.  Where do you hid the reeally good snacks?

I don’t hide snacks, but chocolate? Oh yes I do hide that.  But only if I purchased it for myself.  In a house of 4 women chocolate is like gold.  Because the Princess Palace (aka: Diva Den) has strict privacy rules about other’s bed chambers anything in my room is considered off limits and safe.  But I still have hiding places for it even in my room.

2.  Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van?

For the most part my car is pretty clean inside.  I go in spurts of cleaner some days than others.  Being in Avon, on any given day there could be a number of boxes of brochures in my car, in bags, ready to give out to anyone that happens to be walking upright and breathing.  But there is no food, and the car seats from babysitting are gone now (I used to have 2 in my home daycare that required car seats and one that needed a booster).

current condition of my back seat

3.  Have you ever been to Vegas?

While I do apply the Vegas rule to any and every situation (what happens there stays there), I have never been to Vegas.  Funny thing is, I have ZERO desire to go to Vegas.  I might be the only person I know who couldn’t care less if it vanished off the face of the earth.  Just nothing about Vegas appeals to me.  Not even getting married by an Elvis Presley impersonator would be a draw, not really into that or drive-through weddings either.  I don’t gamble, money is too hard  to come by to do that, might as well light it and toss it in the fireplace!

Not for me, but click the photo to get info on it if that is what you are seeking.

4.  Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket?

COLD room, warm snuggly blanket please! In fact electric blankets are good, I love mine.  My cat likes my room cold too because she sleeps on the blanket and keeps warm, usually against my leg.

5.  What is the worst airplane/flying experience you’ve ever had?

I will go on record as saying I HATE flying.  Terrified the entire time.  It is so hard to read or sleep when one is a complete basket case.

First bad experience, and the worst,  was my second time in the air, coming home from Cancun.  Thankfully the flight down was smooth and uneventful or I’d have hitch hiked back to the states and then hopped a Grey Hound bus home.  Coming back I needed to use the ladies room, so I unbuckled my seat belt (that alone was enough to bring on a panic attack) and went.  While sitting on the commode we hit turbulence.  The flight attendants recommended buckling up.  I’m frantically searching all over around the potty, seems no one thought to install a seat belt for the plane toilets.  I was certain I was going to bounce against the door, forcing it open, landing with my fat ass sticking up in the air, pants around my ankles, and that when we crashed that is how my body would be found!   Thankfully I was able to hang on, finish my business and get back to my seat.  No doubt I looked like I had seen death eye to eye when I returned.

Now in order to get on a plane, which I have done a few more times because it is about the only way to make it to a foreign country in reasonable time, I require Xanex.  When I informed my doctor about how much it disturbs other passengers to see me laying in the fetal position on the floor sucking my thumb and weeping hysterically, he agreed I needed some flying assistance.  I pop one of those babies, have a really big, strong drink at the bar in the airport, and then board the plane.  By the time we hit cruising altitude I am out cold sleeping.  It is the only way to fly.