Grand AM

The trials, struggles and joys of a "FULL TIME" lady in pink, mom, on her way to the top, with a few pitstops, pitfalls and questions along the way.

Saturday, July 20, 2002

Sisters of the Ya-Ya:
http://yayasisterhood.warnerbros.com/cmp/namegen_small.html

I am: Viscountess Speaks in Tongues
Thursday Threesome:

Onesome. A Clear - In the last few months, what have you muddled over that suddenly became a clear, focused picture or plan of action?
Getting our finances back in order. Having to file for bankruptcy and realizing we would survive and NOT be eatin alive.

Twosome. And Present - what is the coolest present you've ever gotten and/or given? Oh wow. Since I have an elitic collection of Coca-Cola, I would say the purse can from Italy is on the coolest list. My Miss Go-Give jewelry box was a surprise, so that tops the list also.

Threesome. Danger - have you ever been in a dangerous situation? With the "then" boyfriend in a town (Jacksonville, FL) I didn't know well, in a full blown out fight. Not sure where to run for help as things were getting worse and not having a dime on me to call someone for help. Very, very scary.
I received my first email off the blog. Not sure if it was a mean question or a general question:

Do you think 24/7 Mary Kay?

Tammie


Ummm. No. Try not to. This is a journal for me to come back and look at the good days and hard days and see where my rhythm is if I loose it. Make sense? I need positive enforcement at all times, so writing in a journal, and yes, maybe a little crazy by being public; I can see how far I have come from.

In the meantime, when not doing MK, I am a mom of 2. Daughter Jennifer who is 8, and son Dustin who is 7. Light of my life. Married 11 years to wonderful husband I met in the military, and work part time as a graphic artist/ web developer for a cheap ass insurance company. Perks of the job - really nice stuff for my future portfolio if I decide to go to another job, which I'm still searching for. Hours are set at my pace, 9-3. Off to work after seconds of dropping the kids off from school and home when they walk in the door from school. I figured boss wasn't going to put me on full time status (got tired of "maybe next month" for 5 months) and so now I take Friday's off to do my thing. I love doing graphic design, but in the same token, if I'm going to stay with this dead-beat guy, then I should move onto something more that will pay more. Right now, in this area, there are just no jobs and the ones I have seen, they want web experience, sales experience, book-keeping experience all rolled up into one position. They expect us developers to have been coding since infancy. Yes, I started coding at the age of 2 before diaper training. Didn't make sense at the time, but it was a wicked execute.

My husband works 2 jobs to supplement the low pay of my 2 jobs. And unfortunately, they are in the hours of "never see the wife and kids" section. I see things looking up and that in a year we will be back on our feet, and both in better cars, a better home and a more stable income. In the meantime, we get by, we do our best and I live on the idea "if we can get through this together, we can get through anything".

Friday, July 19, 2002

or


Thought Smattering's website and the participation positives site had cool logos.. here's mine.

Would you e-mail me if you use it on your site. Then I can see if I have a fan following! Yeah right! LOL
wahooooo archives are back up. I think it was the layout of the last template that was messing up my archives. I'm not crazy about this look.. but it will work and it still has purple. I took some of the tables of the purple and incorporated it with this one.

Ok. down to the bare tax. WHAT A ROCKIN DAY!!!!!! I can't say that enough. I'm on such a high, husband thought I had too much coca-cola in my system and I realized.. I hadn't had any yet!

Started off with an ugly visit to the Dentist. We'll skip this topic.

Visited one customer and droped her order off and gave her the option of earning the travel bag with $100 in orders in the next 2 weeks. She promptly took me down the hallway and introduced me to a girl and I quickly pointed it out - she wore MK, and that she has a consultant. She did. Couldn't even touch her. So I said.. 2 weeks. $100 in orders, free travel bag.

Then I went to see another customer, but she wasn't home, and because I had some time, went to visit my daughters Girl Scout leader and chit chat with her for a bit. Who would have thunk it, an Avon lady and Mary Kay woman friends! The horrror!! LOL. I love her. She's the best.

I then went over to the bank, and dropped off a deposit of $277. (yes!!!) and both my teller girls there who are customers said they want to attend the cool "Before and After" thing with me on the 31st, and one wants to invite 3 friends. Oh please!! That would be awesome!!! The one with the invities also wants the Color 101 set and so she will try a look that night and go from there.. so there is a future order in the making.

I get home, call my mom and chat with her a bit (she has 4 interviews lined up next week) and I get a call in between and I got another $60. order from the customer that wasn't home. WHAT A COOL DAY! I made more in 2 days then I do in a week at my other job. (I work part time for him). This is so cool. So I'm lining up book parties. Take in orders. Going to call a few other customers tonight while the rush is still on. :)

Oh I'm just going to love having these Fridays off.
Oh I give up.. now I have lost ALL my entries

Thursday, July 18, 2002

I'm slowly watching my archives disapear into space. Dropping off one by one. Did see the status board and it says the archive thing isn't working well. Hope my life doesn't fall off like my posts.

Had a WONDERFUL day today. Too well. Dang, have to have more of these days and I can tell my boss to kiss my behind. :)

Had a customer come over and she placed an order. Another $100 day. That's 2 in one week, but by my Mary Kay week (Wed. to Tues.) I am having my first $100 day. To top it off, the customer wants the cool travel bag, so she asked me to do a flyer up for her and send her off with a book, she's coming back with $200 in orders so she can get the travel bag for free. Wa-hoooo. I can deal with that. She also did a practice interview with me, so I have 1 down 8 to go before July 31st.

Then Julie came over for supper. She also brought me a tape from Lisa Madson who was in town this past weekend. Wow. We sat down and watched it and all I could say at the end was.. "sign me up again!". So tomorrow when I visit another customer (YES! FIVE (5) in one week!!!) - I'm going to see if I can get another interview from her and if she seems remotely interested, I'm going to let her borrow my tape.

Whew. I'm on a high and I'm ready to rock and roll.
Friday Five

1. Where were you born? Gallup, New Mexico

2. If you still live there, where would you rather move to? Have moved home in my married years... will never do it again. Though we did end up moving to Colorado, this was not where I would "rather move to". Las Vegas was my first choice.

3. Where in the world do you feel the safest? With a couple grand ($$$) at my feet. Ok.. Disneyland.

4. Do you feel you are well-traveled? Miltary count? I guess so. Haven't gone to foreign countries like my sister has (she lives in Italy right now). But I have been all over Canada and quite a few states.

5. Where is the most interesting place you've been? Key West, Florida.
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” G.K. Chesterton

Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Ugh, just noticed that a few of my entries have disappeared. Hopefully they will show back up. They were cool entries.

Tonight was Pink Wednesday. I have come to call it that. We had a lot of guests, room was packed. What a cool feeling. Our National Director, SuzAnne showed up. I so love watching her speak. She has such flare and I sit there and wonder, could I ever become like her where people sit on the edge of their seats and wait for my next word, idea or thought to come out of me. It's a concept I can hardly imagine. But there she was, talking, making us laugh, clap and all I can think is, "how can I become like this lady? Composure, elegance, classy, style? She is the greatest next to Stephanie" and since I will never be lucky to meet Mary Kay, SuzAnne, to me "IS" Mary Kay.

I heard my team member's phone message to Stephanie tonight. How cool it was to hear everyone go "awww, how sweet" when they heard her excitement and giggle that she would call Stephanie darling as she hung up the phone. I guess a small surprise to the reader, the team member I have is my mom. So how cool it was to hear my mom on the tape recorder that Stephanie played to all of us. I'm so proud of her.

I also talked to SuZanne about a National website. She seems interested and though I have no intentions of making money off of this, I was tickled she wanted to talk to me in August. I get to work one on one with SuZanne. How cool is that? Ok, as my son would say "How sweet!".

So another thing I have to do is set my goals for 2002/2003. Big dreams, big ideas and set my goals. We are going to do the neat pillow case my mom did in her Unit. A goal pillowcase, so when you go to sleep at night, your sleeping on your dreams. More then anything right now, I want to be a Red Jacket and get to Star Consultantship. After that, bring it on, but I really want Star Consultantship more then anything. Have been doing this for 2 years and haven't yet got to that point. (oh yes - email if you have questions about what I'm doing). To me, reaching Star Consultantship and Red Jacket status means I'm working my business more and I will be bringing in a little more money. Ok, not a little, but probably a lot. I also plan on doing 9 interviews over the next 2 weeks. I have 5 people in mind, so I know I can get the other 4 somewhere. I need to displine myself a little more and work a little harder. I just need to open my mouth. That's where I clam up.

Anyway - a great night, I'm in a head rush and all is well.

Oh yes... gotta love "those moments". Tonight. In my non (broke) a/c car. In the heat of 97 degrees at a red light. When I'm wondering, how will we get bills paid, why am I going to the meeting tonight, paying for a babysitter we can't really afford, why am I here? Why am I doing this? Is this the right thing for me? Why? When? Where is it going to get better for us?". All this going through my head, and what stops in front of me turning left? A Mary Kay red Grand AM. THIS is why I'm doing this. Not the car. Not the make-up. Not the money. A better attitude for myself. A better life for my children and husband. A better understanding of how life should be and how I should act in it. All this in a minute and a half before my light turned green.

Thank you Mary Kay, SuZanne, Stephanie amd JC... you could not have come at a better time in my life. I'm grateful and will follow your footsteps.
So I have thought of doing the blogathon. Not sure if I could do it, I mean I could, but the sponsorship thing kind of bugs me, ok, scares me. I can't get customers on the phone, let alone asking for charity help. My charity would be the The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation which donates to Breast Cancer research and Domestic Violence, two strong areas that Mary Kay believed in.

I could blog, but like I said - could I find the sponsorhip? Let me know if you are interested.
Happy Birthday to my kid sister Ruth..

Love you Munches and Bunches Kiddo
Notebook saga - money found, not stamps, must have used them up. Back in business and had another order come in. That makes 4 customers in 2 weeks.. wow a record! If all works well, will make a 5th customer on my list tonight. :)

Got this in an email will post here:

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?:
Vegas babiee!

2. What's YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?:
anything in black... pants and shirt.

3. FAVORITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?:
eyes

4. WHAT'S THE LAST CD THAT YOU BOUGHT?
Frank Sintra Duets (I'm such a geek)

5. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Vegas Babieeee!

6. WHERE'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?:
WORK!

7. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGE
back

8. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY?:
Strong in mind

9. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?:
keep it simple - vanilla

10. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?:
(telephone) Hello? Take out?

11. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?:
when people take credit for my work.

12. IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Piano

13. FAVORITE COLOR?:
what mood I'm in? blue general

14. Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV?:
SUV

15. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AN AFTERLIFE:
yes

16. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK.:
There's a Monster at the End of the Book, staring Loveable Groover from Seasme Street

17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?:
Summer/Spring

18. WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE?:
Garbage

19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?:
invisible. Could disappear when I wanted no one to find me. :)

20. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?:
nope, unless my scars for appendix counts :)

21. CAN YOU JUGGLE?:
No

22. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK WITH.:
my daddy (amazing that I about teared up on this response)

23. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?:
anyday that lets me sleep in. Really, the last day of school for my kids. :)

24. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
jumper cables, stuff from Beau's part time work. Garbage and a few MK books. :)

25. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?:
Hamburger

26. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU EMAILED THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND:
Julie

27. WHO'S LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?:
???

Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Wa-hooooo I found my notebook! I had to finally stop and slow down and really retrace my steps over the past 2 weeks. But I'm still missing some money and stamps.

But my life is back on track and I can sleep tonight! (i'm so pathetic)
Wa-hooo! I just got another order!! Am I rockin or what? Topper? Another $100. order. She liked the set they offered so she took that.

Hurts that I'm only take half payments, but it's working and I think this will work for me in the long run. Wa-hooooooo

Now to find that STUPID notebook.

Monday, July 15, 2002

Going Insane

I started back in January a notebook journal. Took it everywhere with me. Turned into a gratitude journal and taking notes at my meetings. Holds the checks I get once in awhile.

IT"S GONE!!!!

And when I lose something, I will turn the house upside down 400 times over looking for it and will not rest till I find it. DANG IT.. where is it?? There's money in there!!!

I so hear Stephanie in my head "earn your Gold Moneybag, dork!" Ok, maybe not dork.. but she would tease me.
Ok, ok, last post for the day, then I need to get some work done!! :)

I have also joined the positives. So I need to write a few things positve. Need isn't the word.. celebrate is what I'm looking for. :)

Lost 2 more pounds
1 new customer
Go-Give award from last week (major positive)
Get to see husband last night, tonight and tomorrow night :)
letter from my sister
Lots of new links. I like this journal thing and finding other positive women out there who are positive and up beat, and I need that.
Just a few cool notes -

Yesterday a neighbor across the street came over. I had offered to do some babysitting for her with her newborn if she needed a few minutes away. She asked if I was still doing Mary Kay and if she could place an order. How cool! And not only did I get an order, but I had it all on my shelf. What a rockin feeling! That so made my day.

Later in the evening, my team recruit called me from NM. She finished up her Perfect Start (15 faces in 15 days). This is from the person who joined just to get the discount in make-up and take care of my few customers in NM. The challenge seemed too much and she didn't want to do it. Not only has she done a class, but she has done a display table and she did a bridal class, something I haven't even done and would be too nervous to do.

Thinks are looking up.