Are you kidding me?!?!?!

I finally came on here to write about something, and wouldn't you know it, I forgot what I was going to write about!!  I did notice that I had 1 post thru the entire month of September (excluding this one obviously!).  I guess I was kinda busy.  Here's a recap of my September....

Mariah was in an accident on September 4, one of her friends was driving and in a hurry.  She was blinded by the sun and missed a stop sign, putting them in a ditch.  The good news was that everyone was ok.  Mariah and 1 friend were taken by ambulance to the hospital to be looked over and get a few stitches.  The driver was able to walk away with no injuries.  There were a few lessons to be learned that morning:
Slow Down
Wear Your Seatbelt
I think there may have been a few more, and I think they were learned.  There are a few lingering injuries with Ry that we are keeping an eye on.  Just this morning, she was complaining of blurry vision and she continues to get migraines.  Hopefully, a visit to the Dr will get some answers. 

Brittany in the hospital, takin it like a champ.  She said it made her look Bad A$$



Ry, after her stitches, I spared you the nasty of the before pic!

So then, after this happened, Deron and I went on a lovely Salmon fishing expedition in Kenosha, WI. 


Deron caught a biggun

  


So did Jamer




And we got to see the Nina and Pinta replicas, that was pretty awesome!



Just a few pics from our trip.  It was great!  The weather was cold and windy and nasty and we were the only fools from our harbor who went out on either day.  There were times when I was certain that the boat was going to overturn...I learned quick that as long as the Captain wasn't freaking out, I shouldn't either.  By the end of our second session out on the mass that is Lake Michigan, my arms were like jello.  Not sure if anyone else knows that I have absolutely NO arm strength, like really, NONE.  So, reeling in these giant fish out of 200 feet of wicked water, was a chore.  Don't get me wrong, it was awesome, just really hard!

The following week was followed by long hours at work and lots and lots of practice for my Project Presentation.  Lots and lots of long hours, and a brutal presentation.  I have never been so nervous to give any kind of presentation like I was for this one!!  I had the shakes, sweats, butterflies (aka dragons), all the usual stuff, but when it was my turn, they all went away.  It was wierd!!  But I did get compliments, and some good feedback, so I was relieved.  Now, to finish out the month strong at work...September 30 marks my departments end of year.  My department of 3.  Needless to say, September is a crazy month (and probably not the best time for vacation!!)

The Next week was spent tying up loose ends for the Walk to Defeat ALS on Sunday, September 25.  Final numbers are not in yet, but we are close to our goal.  This year seemed to go much smoother than in the past, it was a great day!  As in the past, we had nasty weather all week, and on Sunday, the skies parted and the sunshine was upon us.  Thanks Dad!! 



For the 2nd year in a row, Addie got to play with Sheltered Reality (who by the way are amazing, you should book them for your next event!!)...except this year, there were also some other special guests




Just 1 of the many raffle baskets, Hand Painted Amazingness from my cousin Casie Kastner, hand painted ceramic frame and the other ALS Awareness loot was a huge hit.  The raffle baskets and quilt auction (I can't get the quilt photo to upload which is really a shame because it is pretty awesome!) brought in over $1000 on Walk Day!!

The Walk is always a great time, we had a larger number of teams this year also which was incredible.  And Addie's Girl Scout troop was on hand to help out.  Addie actually did a little presentation of her own, telling her troop about what ALS is and why it's important for us to Walk and why it's important to help out.  She also did AWESOME!!

So, this will bring us to this week.  Well, last night I kicked off my new business Thirty~One with an Open House.  We had a larger turnout than expected, and it went pretty well.  I still need to spend some time working on my "Organization Skills" (hahahaha, I know everyone who has known me will laugh at that!!)  But for real, I've been so busy with everything else in my life that this kinda crept up on me!  Tonight, after I get the grocery shopping (that I haven't done in weeks) done, and after I mow (last time for the summer, but also the first time this month!) and after I finish up the laundry (that I started last Friday) and after I shave my Dog (because I thought I could cut her hair...just FYI...I have no future as a groomer!!)...I will spend some time getting this new business organized.  I have a little time before my first party, so I'm not stressed about it...YET!

So, there you have it, September in a nutshell.  I'll do better in October.

My New Venture - Thirty-One

Because I didn't have enough in my life to keep me busy, I have also decided to branch out and try another adventure.  Please welcome your Soon To Be Certified and Official - Thirty-One Consultant. 

This isn't a company that I just found out about either, so this was not a rash decision.  I've been "collecting" Thirty-One products for over a year.  I've given them as gifts, I've bought pretty much the entire catalog.  And I use the products every day.  I am a walking advertisement for my friend, Kristi, who I am signing up under.  Seriously, I give out her business cards like you wouldn't believe. 

So, I figured, why not hand out my own business cards.  Walking around with my purchases sparks all kinds of conversations in the oddest places - grocery store, bank, school, zoo.  Seriously, people stop me and ask where I got my purse or cooler or suitcase.  And I would tell them and hand out Kristi's card.  I think it's high time I start sending out my own cards!  Especially to the lady in the Hy-Vee parking lot who asked me about the cooler, and then proceeded to stick her hands in my trunk and fondle all the other bags and totes I had in there.  She is the kind of people I'm talking about!

My official Debut will be on Tuesday, September 27 (2 days after the ALS Walk, cause I work best under pressure).  Within the first 45 days, I will need to hold 4 parties in order to earn my starter kit money back and get the other amazing sign up bonuses. 

So my question is....who's comin with me?  Who wants to help me get started on the right foot, but hosting a party.  There are 4 kinds of parties and all are very low key, no pressure shopping opportunities.

-In-Home Demo - this is the style most common.  I will come to your house and show the products, talk about them and give you ideas of what you can use the items for.  This is the best style if you want to have high sales and earn more free product as a hostess. 
-In-Home Open House - I will come and set up shop on your table, put your snacks somewhere else :)  This is great if you are new to your home, what a great way to show off that new house!  All the items are out to see, feel, and ask questions about.  I'll offer suggestions and talk about products asked, no big long spiel.
-In-Home DIY (Do It Yourself) - I won't come to your house for your party, but your guests will!  I'll ship you a package with some demonstration products, catalogs and order forms.  You invite your friends over for a Girls Night In and do the work for me!  Inside the original package is a box to ship the products and your orders back to me, pre-paid, no cost to you. 
- Catalog Party - also very common, and super easy to do.  Take a few books, hand them out, get some orders and earn free product. 

You know when you are at an in home party and the consultant has you play a game.  And wham, suddenly you are the lucky duck who has to have a party next, even if you have no interest.  I don't ever play the games where someone is forced to book a show.  I don't ever play the recruiting games either.  Why...because as a guest, I hated them. 

I believe that if I am doing my job, you will see how great the products are and want to book your own show to earn them for free.  I believe that if you are at a point in your life where you are looking for something else, and you think Thirty-One might be for you, then we can have that chat.  So there seriously is NO pressure.  I will however sing the praises of the products and the company until my face turns blue. 

You can access the catalog here: http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog to check out these items that have me so excited; but don't order anything from there....at least not yet!  If there is something you see that your mom / sister / boyfriend / grandma / best friend / cousin / nephew / etc can't live without, contact me, we'll get it ordered at my debut.  And if you see something you just can't live without, contact me to set up your show to get your stuff for FREE. 

I do want to share a few of my favorite products real quick:

This would be the Hang Up Home Organizer - LIFE SAVER!  Pockets for everything, the "windows" can easily double as a white board. Since I can't get the pic to upload, I will just tell you that the pockets are very versitile and functional!   Use them to hold mail, coupons, school papers, church papers, bills, calendar, menus, school schedules, pretty much everything that is clogging up your counter space or kitchen table, gather it up and stick it in here.  Still accessible, but organized and out of sight.  This thing is awesome.  And an organized persons dream come true! 



Rolling Tote - Hostess Exclusive Item - Comes with a telescoping handle that hides inside a zippered pocket when not in use.  The bag itself is HUGE.  And the nice thing is, it doesn't look huge.  Addie and I took this on our Zoo trip and fit both of our clothes, our bathroom bag, a pillow and 2 pairs of tennis shoes.  Oh and did I mention it's on wheels!

These are just a few of the items I'm in love with.  I'll show you more later.