{{food for thought}}

Welcome!!

Just a quick WELCOME to my new business partner, Gina!!  You can check out her blog here!

Have you started a new home business this year?  Have you had one in the past that didn't work out so well for you?  {{{been there...done that}}}  I'd LOVE to share with you how my business with Internet CEO Moms and Melaleuca is so much different from everything else out there!  I am a part of the greatest team of moms and work-at-home ladies out there!  I have so much support and training to pull from- there's no way I could NOT succeed with this business--- the only thing getting in my way is...well...ME!

Join us, why don't you?!  You will be so glad you did!

7 Days In

We're seven days in to 2011!  Can you believe it?!  I know I sure can't!

So...how is your year going so far?  Mine so far has been a good reflection time.  Goals I have (and I'm not really a goal-oriented person), strides I want to make, things I want to accomplish.

Thankfully- I have already started living out two of my goals!

1.) Create a healthy lifestyle for my family.
The first way I am doing this through using safer products.  I know that by using products that are green I am not exposing my kiddos to all the harsh chemicals and dangerous substances that other brands offer.  And this isn't just through my cleaners!  I'm using safer laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, bath products, and even vitamins that are specially formulated to break down to be used more efficiently in the body!
Now--- I am working on being a better PLANNER for meals.  There are some weeks that I do GREAT!  Then there are some weeks (like this week-- that I don't do so great!)  {{real life moment...we were driving around last night desperately searching for a DECENT place to eat.  I hadn't planned a meal because I had friend's jewelry party to attend- and Thursdays are my "end of the week" day where I'm just worn out!  Luckily we found a meat and 3 place open and ate some yummy food!  Much better than fast food!}}  But my hubby and I have both agreed that despite how hectic our schedules can get- the better planned out we are- the healthier we eat (and the more money we save!)

2.)  Find a business that I can work from home with and truly succeed. 
Yay!  I'm so glad that I have found Internet CEO Moms.  Not only do we represent a great company whose products are necessities, but they have the greatest business plan out there for ANYONE who would like to have a home-based business!  This plan doesn't require any home parties, deliveries, or taking orders.  It does require working HARD to make it work for you!  Because let's face it- most "get rich quick" plans are schemes and you end up out less than you made.  And I personally don't have free weeknights to go into people's homes to do parties (although I do love 31 gifts and Premiere Jewelry and Pampered Chef--- it's just not practical for me).  Now I will tell you that while home parties are not required- it can all be done online- I love opening my home up and presenting these products and letting potential customers see first-hand how well these products work!!  In fact- feel free to email me to find out when I will be doing this, if you're interested!
And this doesn't have to be just for moms!  Say you AND your hubby want to get involved, or you know of someone who is at a dead end at their current job.  Send them my way and I'll be glad to share our business plan with them and how they can have their business up and going by month's end!  Remember- it isn't easy street- it's working hard, being disciplined, and setting goals (which is what I'm working on- right?!).

So make this YOUR year!!  

Start living your life---  don't let it live you!  

Christmas Shopping and Giveaways

What all are you shopping for this year?  Are you all about the deals?  Here's a list of some of the cool deals/blogs/giveaways I've come across....

Shutterfly- giveaway 50 free cards if you blog about them (check out my other blog)
How Does She, Love Stitched- Silhouette giveaways--- have you seen these machines?!  Go HERE to see them.  Makes me crafty just thinking about it!
*and here's another list of all the places giving these away...HERE at The Idea Room.
Canvas People - I just uploaded one of our Christmas pictures to the Canvas People and can't WAIT to get it!  Best of all--- I only paid shipping ($14.95) for an 8x10 canvas- full price they are $50 bucks!  I found this HERE .  (and now...after looking around I found the "free shipping " code!  ugh!  At least I got the canvas for free, huh?!)
Also, if you're in the Memphis area...check this out.

Okay--- that's all I have right now...do you have any good deals or giveaways you want to let us all in on?!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

If you're a member of the greatest GREEN company out there--- don't forget one of your membership benefits---

MARKETPLACE!

It's a great place to go today for all of your holiday shopping- from the convenience of home-- not out with all the other crazies!  {sorry if you're one of those--- my husband is too--- but he did finish up shopping for all the men in our life today while out!}  But I am having the luxury of shopping in my pj's while little one is napping, and getting so many of those same deals online!

HAPPY SHOPPING FOLKS!

Those Darn Fitted Sheets!

Okay-- so not too many things around the house can get me aggravated (besides the fact that no matter how many times the dishes get done, there always seems to be more to do!) but those darn fitted sheets used to always give me a fit!  Most times they ended up wadded into a big ball (because we have a king size bed) and thrown into the top of the linen closet until needed.  Now I'm not one who irons my sheets, but I did hate it when I would pull out said sheet and it would be terribly wrinkled!  So my dear aunt one day showed me and my mom her trick.  Maybe you know it already- but for the rest of you fitted-sheet-haters- don't be scared-- you show that fitted sheet who the domestic queen of your house is!! 

*Note- I used a crib sheet because it was the easiest thing to take pictures of*

the crumpled fitted sheet

Okay- turn one side inside out...

fold in half....

tuck it into itself.  then turn one corner out and....

tuck it into the other corner.

now you have a rectangle of sorts.  all of your fitted sides should be tucked into each other in one corner.

smooth out and fold up!  there you have it folks!  a nice fitted sheet, folded correctly!

So- hope that helped and wasn't too confusing!  First time taking pictures of a process like that!  Maybe next time I'll go into picnic and do some cool pics with instructions and arrows and all that cool stuff!

Now--- go fold some sheets! 

How Do You Do It?!

EXERCISE!

How do you do it??  I can't ever seem to find the time or energy or "get up and go" to get out and get going!  I have tried to convince my dear hubby that we need an elliptical or treadmill, but he has repeatedly told me it would be a waste of space and eventually turn into another place to hang clothes! I mean, he could be right- but seriously- I can't leave the house during naptime, by night time when hubby is home I am just plain pooped, and I would have to get up before the rooster crows to do it in the mornings!  I guess I like my sleep too much??  (Of course if I were more disciplined, I'd be in bed before 10 and might could handle it.) 

I would like to convince myself that my everyday activities are enough- carrying a hefty 8+ month old around (which is really just making my hips out of whack), running up and down the stairs, and just the everyday hustle and bustle.  But I know that if I were to go outside right now and run to the end of the street and back- I.might.just.die.  I mean let's face it- none of us are as young as we were ten years ago!  I mean, for Pete's sake- I'm finding gray hairs in my always-turning-darker-no-longer-blonde hair!! 

So my question is this- how do you do it?  When do you find the time?  Are you consistent with it?  Please tell me I'm not the only one!!!!