Memorial Day

I would take this time to thank the men and women that have served or are currently serving to ensure the freedom of our country. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy our day off, our cookouts, and sit outside and enjoy the clean air. We are not afraid of bombs going off, someone commiting a huge suicide mission that will take out hundreds of people, or just going to work to run simple errands. We are able to go to work, spend time with our families and children, and watch our children grow.

I as a female am especially thankful. In some countries, a woman does not have a say, is not even spoken too, or doesnt have a say when it comes to her children. Those men and women serving allow me to write this blog, with my inner thoughts, allow me to raise my children WITH my husband, making decisions WITH him instead of being told what to do and how to do it. I have freedom of speech, I work outside of the home, and I can be LOUD.

I have few family members that have served, I am grateful for their time away to make sure we are taken care of. I have a few friends that are serving now, I am thankful for the continued measures to make sure my girls will be safe, and I know I will know more in the future that will decide to serve and go off to bootcamp, tech school, than be stationed.

I work with active duty US Coast Guard men and women, even though they are not serving overseas or on the water they are serving. My division chief, from CT, lived in Seattle where he was inspecting vessels to make sure they were safe enough for water, got his papers to come to West Virginia, where we just have the Potomac (thats what all my mariners tell me!). His whole routine, life, and duties changed to help mariners get a credential to work on the waters. They move away from their families, they up root their lives, and go where they are told to go until that time is over. The LTJG is actively working everyday, helping us help the mariner.

So if you see someone who SERVED, are SERVING now, or will be SERVING soon, please thank them for their time. They dont have to do it, they wish to do it.

June's Thirty One Customer Special

I am super excited to be announcing that Thirty-One has an awesome June Special for their customers.
For every $35 you spend, you can purchase a Large Utility Tote for $10 (Value $35)!!!!! I am so excited about this. Also in June, Thirty-One is offering their BRAND NEW Top-A-Tote for $10. This item will only be available in June until our Fall catalog.

I am so excited for this month's special that I will be giving away a Top-A-Tote!!!! This topper will surely make the Large Utility Tote even easier to use while carrying around all your items. Your choice of Black or Brown to make sure it matches your Large Utility Tote!!!

Be one of the first of your friends to use this topper!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A New Summer Wardrobe?!?!

Yep I think that is what I am going to have to work one. Once our vacation is over, I think my commission from Thirty One will be supporting my wider hips and my different figure from having 2 beautiful little girls. I tried on a pair of Capri’s this morning and all I can say is "OUCH", couldn’t get them snapped. When I turned to look at my butt in the mirror, they looked good, like they fit but around front it was all wrong. Tight, stretched out, and not snapped shut or zipped. My body has definitely changed these past 3 years of being pregnant twice.

Since my girls were born in the same season (September and October babies), two out of the last three summers, I was in maternity wear. I had adorable belly shirts for my baby bump and cute shorts. However that is long gone and I need some cute clothes for my new post baby body. My hips really didn’t change with Ava, the summer after her, I fit into those tight fitting Capri’s.....But Hailey, she really changed my figure. Also my body really prepared for labor with Hailey, my hips hurt as they widened preparing for labor, then I actually went into labor on my own and my body is spreading open to allow her to come into this world.

So new clothes for Mommy, this will be a first, I like all moms usually buy for my kids even if they don’t need it. Hoping I can get rid of this tummy a little bit also to help out, my c-section scar healed great but tight fitting clothes or buttons from pants make it sour. I think a slimmer belly might help with this.

So let the summer begin....

DISNEY JUNIOR'S "YO HO, LET'S GO SUMMER!"

DISNEY JUNIOR'S "YO HO, LET'S GO SUMMER!" MULTI-PLATFORM PROGRAMMING EVENT RETURNS FEATURING NEW EPISODES OF CABLE TV'S #1 AND #2 SERIES AMONG KIDS 2-5, "DOC MCSTUFFINS" AND

"JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES," BEGINNING MONDAY, JUNE 4

New iOS Apps Available Today for "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates"

DisneyJunior.com to Launch Summer Super-Site Featuring New Online Games to "Unlock" Each Week and Printable Summer Scrapbook


Disney Junior's interactive multi-platform "Yo Ho, Let's Go Summer!" programming event returns with new episodes of "Doc McStuffins" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates," cable TV's #1 and #2 series among Kids 2-5 respectively, as well as other favorite Disney Junior series including "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Jungle Junction" and "Octonauts" beginning MONDAY, JUNE 4-FRIDAY, AUGUST 24.  The "Yo Ho, Let's Go Summer!" programming event will take place across all Disney Junior digital platforms including Disney Junior On Demand, Mobile and iTunes, as well as an immersive online super-site on DisneyJunior.com featuring new games to "unlock" each week and a printable summer scrapbook.  Additionally, new interactive iOS apps for "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" launch today.

                Disney Junior's "Yo Ho, Let's Go Summer!" programming event kicks off on Monday, June 4 with a week of new "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" episodes airing on both the Disney Junior programming block on Disney Channel (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) and the new 24-hour Disney Junior channel (5:30 p.m., ET/PT).  Also beginning June 4, kids and their parents can log on to DisneyJunior.com/Summer to print out pictures of their favorite Disney Junior characters to take along with them and include in photos of their summer adventures.  Parents can then upload the photos of their child with their character for the chance to be seen on Disney Junior.  The site will also feature a printable summer scrapbook, with new pages added each week through August 24.

Beginning Friday, June 15, new episodes of favorite Disney Junior series will air every Friday throughout the summer on both the Disney Junior programming block and the Disney Junior channel.  During each episode premiere, kids will see a featured Disney Junior character of the day and can go online to DisneyJunior.com/Summer to unlock a new game based on that character.

Among the premieres are an episode of "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" where Marina (voiced by recurring guest star Ariel Winter of "Modern Family") and the rest of the mermaids make Izzy an honorary mermaid, Friday, June 29; a special 45-minute episode of "Jungle Junction," where Zooter and Ellyvan care for a stranded baby FlaGoGo bird, Friday, July 6; Donald Duck serves as a reluctant babysitter for a mystery egg on "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," Friday, July 13; Jim Belushi guest stars as the recurring character Glo-Bo, a six-handed toy monster in "Doc McStuffins," Friday, July 20; Jane Kaczmarek guest stars in the recurring role of Red Jessica, a swashbuckling pirate gal who wins over Captain Hook in "Jake and the Never Land Pirates," Friday, August 10; and a heartwarming episode of "Doc McStuffins" where Doc's toy friends come to her rescue when she becomes the patient, Friday, August 17.

In anticipation of this summer's programming festivities, the network today launched two new iOS apps, the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally" appisode app on iPad and "Jake's Never Land Pirate School" gaming app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally appisode brings viewing, learning and interaction together into one cohesive, fun-filled iPad experience.   Fans 2-7 years old can touch, tap shake, swipe, drag and talk through an entire episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  The activities presented in the "appisode" include valuable counting, critical thinking and problem solving skills.  This is the first in a series of Disney Junior Appisodes to be released this year.

Using the "Jake's Never Land Pirate School" app, preschoolers can become completely immersed in Never Land, completing pirate-themed challenges presented in Sailing, Music, Flying, and Map and Spyglass classes.  Features include: hunting for doubloons on Doubloon Beach; a customizable pirate certificate signed by Jake; and the ability to import a child's photo into Pixie Dust flying class. 

Disney Channel's Disney Junior block ended 1Q 2012 with its highest 1Q ratings ever across target demos Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5, Boys 2-5, Women 18-49 and Total Viewers (1.4 million), marking its 5th straight quarter of posting quarterly highs (1Q11 to 1Q12) in Kids 2-5 and Boys 2-5.  Year to date, "Doc McStuffins" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" are the Top 2 cable TV series in Kids 2-5 and Boys 2-5, and the Top 2 preschool cable TV series in Total Viewers and Women 18-49.  "Doc McStuffins" is also cable’s #1 series with girls 2-5 for the year. Moreover, the March 23 premiere of "Doc McStuffins" became the #1 preschool series launch in cable TV history in Adults 18-49. [Source: NTI, 12/26/11-5/20/12, L+7 ratings. "Doc McStuffins" series launch, 3/23/12,  Live + SD; Series ranks based on program level data, most current, includes ties based on rating.]

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior's series blend Disney's unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network's biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels.  On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior added a cable and satellite channel in the U.S. bringing the total number of channels to 29 worldwide. 

Disney/Pixar's BRAVE - "Freedom Broch"

Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) andcantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor. Opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

People Like Us - Film Clip "Family Outing"

Love Can Build a Bridge

Last night I attended with my girls the Mother/Daughter Banquet our church holds every year for us. It is a really  nice program that celebrates our moms. When I started going with my mother in law, I was pregnant with Ava, now here we are with our 2 girls.

Last night the wonderful ladies that were guest singers, sang "Love Can Build a Bridge", I love this song, it usually doesnt have any effect on me but last night it almost brought tears. Here I am sitting with my girls, with my mother in law, sister in law, aunts, cousins, friends, and I am missing my Nanny.

My Nanny will never meet my girls, even though I hope she is shining down on them everyday. I hope she sees how beautiful they are, how aggravating Ava is (she would laugh at her and make her more spoiled), and see how much fun they have. I dont know why this song took me there, but it did.

I looked around the room, looked at all the women and thought how my mother would never sit with her mother. She has been gone for 7 years, a long time, seems like yesterday we were visiting her while she sat in her bed, all bones, some days she would have lively conversation, some days we just sat there with her.

I always think about about her, find myself talking to her sometimes, but think of her more, miss her more in the summer time. We would spend full summers over her house. We lived there as much as mom and dad would allow us. We grew up with a close nit of friends (all neighbors of my nanny) and played all day long. She allowed mom to get a break from us. I hope my kids are as close with their nanny (my mom) as we were with ours. She really knew how to spoil us and let us get our way.

So last night was a little emotional however with the girls there was no time to let it soak in. I just moved on as usual when I get stuck in those thoughts. Just as Nanny would probably want it. I never saw her too emotional herself, she was just Nanny. She was either happy or not. So I took a deep breath and went back to looking at my girls, being thankful for what I have in my life.

Thankful for the ladies in my life. My mom and my sisters, my mother in laws and sister in law. I am surrounded by strong women and can go to them for a lot. My girls will grow hearing stories of their great grandma (Nanny) and her wild days and how she loved us. They will get to see pictures of how beautiful she was.

New Clip from Disney/Pixar's BRAVE

New Clip from Disney/Pix​ar's BRAVE - "Fergus Shares a Legend"!

Why? Why? Why?

Yes our 2 year old has figured out the question “Why?” it is exhausting!!!

I love that she is curious, I love that she wonders, I love that she wants to know.  

As a parent though, you know how many times a day you can be asked why, how many times you have to repeat yourself, and how many times your kid backs you in a corner, when you really don’t know what to do about it. I guess it is something we will get used to, I really try to give her 'real' answers. So many people say just tell her 'because you said so', no thank you. If Ava is asking why? She is getting an answer. Now sometimes I have had to tell her that I will get back to her, she actually accepts that. There are times I tell her we have to ask daddy. There are times I tell her I don’t know. There are things going on that I can't explain to her, such as when we are in a store and a little kid is crying, I have no clue why but she wants to know. She feels bad for the kid but I tell her I don’t know but he/she will be okay later and she says okay and we move on to the next subject and round of questions.

This age is so much fun because they are figuring it all out but can be so frustrating. I try to roll with the bumps as much as I can. This 'why?' phase will never end and I don’t want it to. I am 28 years old and still ask my parents why? If I don’t understand something, I still question things done at work, home, or within the family. She should too.

Soon we will have Hailey doing this to us, and she will be bugging Ava. I want them to learn as much as they even if I don’t have the answer right away.

My OH My

Life has been too busy for words these past few weeks. Our girls are keeping our hands full.

Ava has entered what we believe are the ‘trying threes’ at 31 months old. She is misbehaving like crazy and trying my last nerves. She wants to as much as she can by herself and I am trying to work with that but while trying to make sure she stays safe while doing it. Since moving upstairs, she is now going up and down the stairs a lot. A lot by herself. I will be in the kitchen and she will yell “Mommy” from upstairs, with her short legs and being a typical 2 year old I am afraid she will be falling backwards if she doesn’t pay attention. So I go to the bottom of the stairs and watch her come down. She does really well but I think it’s just the mom in me scared that I’ll find her at the bottom with something broke. I say ‘no’ she says ‘yes OR my daddy says yes OR Vickie says yes OR Hailey says yes’, she tries anything to get to do what she wants when she wants even though she has been told no.

There has been a lot of time outs. On top of all this our 7 month old is teething and cranky and clingy. So there are a lot of times we have both of them crying and sometimes we have no clue why either is doing it. Hailey, granted, can’t tell us what is wrong; we have to figure it out. But Ava will be doing something, happy, then we will make a move, and its WRONG according to her and she just starts crying and throwing a fit. This most of the time upsets Hailey, who hates to hear her cry. So she ends up trying to tell us what is wrong in the middle of her crying and screaming. Yep those aren’t a lot of days but they are there.

I must also say that Hailey is yet sleeping through the night, she is close, the past couple of nights she has woken up out of habit I believe and just doesn’t know how to soothe herself back to sleep without the bottle. She hasn’t been eating the full bottle like before but an ounce or two then back to sleep. So maybe in the next month. So Kenny and I are running on most days of broken sleep and a 5:30 am wake up call. Her internal clock is killing me. It doesn’t matter what time the girl goes to bed its 5:30am.

Kenny has been working like crazy and it seems like if he is home I am at work and if I am home he is at work or leaving for work. So he either has the girls by himself or I do and it is a lot. Soon we will be back to tag teaming the girls and able to give them both some alone time and sole attention. They both need their time with us.

I am just glad they are 25 months apart and not any less, I don’t know what I would do if Ava wasn’t able to semi take care of herself while I am taking care of Hailey. She has been so helpful and now she will do things for Hailey and even tell me “I am a good big sister”. She is recognizing that being helpful is a rewarding duty and she wants to help more. Even when Ava is having a major meltdown, Hailey can make her smile.

So trying 3’s, teething, busy schedules and we are all surviving. We are all loved and taken care of. All I can say is that I am thankful Kenny is home, he’s not overseas on duty, he doesn’t work a lot of doubles to be away for days at a time, and his shift allows him a few straight days with the girls. If he wasn’t home I wouldn’t know what to do because he allows me my 20 minute break to take a relaxing bath, he cooks dinner, and he can take Ava outside or over to a cousins so I can sit for a minute.

Wordless Wednesday

A little girl, my little girl, drawing at her new table, mismatched pjs, wild hair, BUT happy!

Mothers Day

So Mothers' Day was okay this year. I didn't expect much with Kenny working and the girls being young and really not old enough to know that you shower your mommy on this day but then again I think I am showered everyday with lots of love and attention from the girls.

It was busy though. My gracious, we ran all over 2 counties saw both parents, and was back home in time for a half of a movie (Shrek 2) and then bed.

My husband gave me a gift that surely will be used soon, a gift card to a resturant for me and a friend to have dinner or lunch. A girls day. I can't wait for it, who knows when I will have it but it's coming.

The card was perfect, cannot wait to put it with my others so that the girls will see them when they are older.

The girls weren't too hard on me but I didnt get a nap or a break until both were asleep. By that time I was begging for it!

How to Throw a Super Hero Party!!

Invitations: Start your party off right with the perfect invitation. You can make your own postcard invitations with cardboard cut-outs of bright blue painted stars, and include the details about your party in a thin black marker. Decorate the front of each with classic comic book words like POW!, ZAP! And WAM!

Décor: The Avengers bring together 6 epic superheroes. Create your own easy decorations with cardboard cutouts of spiders and paint them black, neon green head’s of The Hulk and classic American flags for Captain America and, throughout the party, use bold colored streamers, which will add some mystery to the room.

Centerpieces: Choose your favorite Avenger and decorate the table around that character. Use lots of primary colors, since comic strips are usually blue, yellow and red. Print outs of comic book pages covered in contact paper make great placemats. Blanket your tables with these to tie the décor together and include stars, spiders and Hawkeye cut-outs on wooden sticks around the table with silver confetti.

Music: Keep the music simple but fun. “Live to Rise,” the original song written for and appearing in the film is the first single from the Marvel Music/Hollywood Records release Avengers Assemble. The epic and cinematic video, featuring a searing live performance with film footage, was directed by Robert Hales (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janet Jackson, Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake). View “Live To Rise”: http://www.vevo.com/watch/soundgarden/live-to-rise-from-marvels-the-avengers/USH5V1221447 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZNtOcY_1A

Menu: Mini snacks such as cut-out tea-sandwiches make great finger food. Look for cookie cutters in shields, stars and spiders to create these treats. For Incredible Hulk themed beverages, create trays of green ice cubes by freezing water with green food color, and WOW! guests as their clear citrusy beverages transform color before their very eyes.

Party Favors: As a parting gift, place a few Avenger designed cookies in a cellophane bag and close with a gold twist-tie – your guests can enjoy the party for days to follow with these treats!”

RECIPE

1. Whip up a batch of your favorite sugar cookie recipe and use a cookie cutter to make character cookies. They make Superhero cookie cutters in the shape of many Avengers heroes. You can also use any oval shaped cookie cutter and instead fill in the details with your decorating. Once your cookies are baked and cooled, you are ready to begin decorating.

2. You can make your own royal icing (See: How to Make Your Own Royal Icing included below) or use store-bought. Color with food coloring to achieve the various colors you want for decorating. We recommend green (for the Hulk), yellow, blue, black, white, and brown. Place each color in a piping bag.

3. Begin by outlining the cookie in your base color. (If you were starting with The Hulk, outline the entire shape in green. Color in your outline with green icing and cover the entire cookie. (You can actually use a paintbrush to “paint” your cookie.) Give the base a few minutes to dry and choose your next color. For The Hulk’s hair, outline his hairline in black and proceed to fill in with black icing. You can continue to draw features in and watch your character come to life.

How to Make Your Own Royal Icing

• 3 egg whites, at room temperature. We prefer dehydrated egg whites, available at most supermarkets.
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• food coloring (optional)

Mix above ingredients with a little warm water until smooth. Add food coloring.

Disneynature and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) today announced the impact of the latest Disneynature conservation program

Disneynature and the Jane Goodall Institute Announce Conservation Program Impact

Program Will Protect 129,236 Acres of Habitat, Educate 60,000 Schoolchildren about Chimpanzee Conservation, and Care for Orphaned Chimpanzees

BURBANK, Calif. (May 11, 2012) – Disneynature and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) today announced the impact of the latest Disneynature conservation program “See ‘Chimpanzee’ Save Chimpanzees.” For every moviegoer who saw Oscar the chimpanzee on the big screen during the film’s record-setting run, (April 20-May 3, 2012), Disneynature made a donation to JGI through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which will profoundly impact JGI’s efforts to conserve chimpanzee habitat, grow educational programs for schools and provide care for orphaned chimpanzees.

The conservation program will help to protect 129,236 acres (202 square miles) of wild chimpanzee habitat through infrastructure investments in the expanded Tchimpounga Nature Reserve in the Republic of Congo (Congo). Additionally, the program will enable JGI to exponentially grow its education program on the importance of protecting chimpanzees, reaching an estimated 60,000 children in 100 schools in Congo. The education initiative will extend to the students’ parents and neighbors, ultimately reaching nearly half of the country’s population. The program will also provide food and medicine for nearly all of the orphaned chimpanzees at JGI’s Tchimpounga chimpanzee sanctuary for at least the next year.

"A huge ‘thank you’ to Disneynature and the millions of people who saw ‘Chimpanzee’ in its first two weeks,” said Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace. “The conservation program ‘See “Chimpanzee,” Save Chimpanzees’ substantially raised public awareness about the threats facing chimpanzees and their habitat, and everyone who saw the film helped the Jane Goodall Institute continue its efforts to protect these amazing beings and their forest home now and in the future."

My First Recruit

This one of the coolest things ever. Last night I received an email that a person that was planning to just have a party for me for Thirty-One had joined and under me. Which means she is my recruit and we will be working together. She is very sweet and I am super excited for her. I am still going to attend her party but as a 'helper' not the consultant and will be taking some of my items that she will not have yet. And I will get to meet her guests and make some contacts, which is always fun. I love meeting new people and working with them. Thirty-one has again brought something new to my life and has made it exciting. Cannot wait for her party next week!

6 Months Old

Our little chunky monkey is 6 months old. She is 17 lbs 4 oz, 26 1/2 inches long and growing like a weed. She's eating 6 oz at a feedng and baby food twice a day if not three times a day. She is rolling all over, scooting backwards, and reaching out for objects she wants. She is slowly learning to really play and to get toys to make noise.

She and Ava are growing closer together and almost always together when they are home. Ava is a great big sister, showing Hailey how to do stuff and she shares everything she can with her, sometimes that is trying to feed her something she cant eat yet.

Hailey is almost always HAPPY, although she has her moments. She has her daddy's serious look and his eyes. She can be very serious at her age, her frowns dont lie. She really is a happy fun loving baby who bounces and squeals. We are very blessed with such a pleasant baby for the second time.

She still isnt sleeping through the night, but even when I was pregnant with her I knew she would be my baby that didnt sleep. She kicked in the womb at all hours of the night and was quiet most of the day. We are kinda co-sleeping with her also, she sleeps in her bed for half the night. I choose my battles and with Kenny's schedule it has been easier to have them in my bed then not.

It has been a ride with lots of ups and downs since she has came but wouldnt change it for the world. She and Ava are my babies and so happy to have them in our lives. They adore they're daddy and I cannot wait to see Hailey grow into the daddy's girl that Ava has become.

Six months down, Six more to go until she is One year old. The things she will learn between now and then are sure to amaze me as they did when Ava learned them. They learn so quickly they're first year. It is also a celebration, a full year down a lifetime to go!

New Room, maybe new routine

Tonight, once we got the girls home and dinner ate, we took them upstairs to see their new room. Ava's reaction "wow!"

Its not completed yet, looks like that will wait for the weekend but it will be easy moving everything now that there is room for everything we must take up. I am hoping for a little bit of a new beginning, getting the girls out of our bed, eventually, letting them become more independent with their own space, and getting a little time to ourselves once the girls go to bed.

My Very First Open House with Thirty One Gifts

I have been working part time with Thirty One since February, I have to admit I have been having a blast. I am putting a lot of my creativity and business background into it. It’s nice to look at the whole picture and break it down to try to make it work better. I love my full time job and it is a hard job, you have to think what you are doing and why you are doing it but Thirty One has allowed me to go outside the box a little.

This past weekend, we closed our spring catalog and opened our summer catalog. I took the opportunity given to me by my super Direction, Lizzy, to have a Last Chance/First Glance party. This would give people the opportunity to order from our Spring catalog one more time and then preview the summer catalog. I had about 10 guests, which I thought was awesome for the first time. The weather was a little crappy so I know why a few that RSVPed probably didn’t come. Driving in that rain on/rain off kind of weather isn’t fun.

By the middle of the afternoon both girls had napped and we had a house full. There were kids running around playing and us girls in the living room chatting while looking at the new catalog and I answered all questions as best I could.

I am proud to say I think it was a success. Not only did I collect a lot of sales but I got to show off the new book and talk with family and friends about our upcoming season. The only disappointing part was that I did not book one party. I thought I would. However I am hoping that after people receive their products they will rethink and contact me for a party.

I am blessed to have this come when it did. It is allowing me to do what I think I do best, mingle and socialize. I love meeting new people and chatting it up. I have a few parties in May and cannot wait to meet their guests. Also it is allowing us to save up a little more to take with us on vacation and after vacation I will be putting as much towards our debt as I can. I have seen what this product can do for your family and the rewards are endless. I hope to continue doing well and booking parties to get me out of the house and mingling while having a great time.

A Day of Cleaning

So today was spent cleaning upstairs and organizing all the stuff that we had stored there. The rooms are now ready for move in. It didn't take quite as long as I thought. We are going to do a little at a time once we get up there on the projects that will need a little more money. But we made a lot of progress.

Cannot wait to see the finished product!!