Toilet Paper, Anyone?

I have a business and a family of six so purchasing supplies and/or household items in bulk is a regular occurence. However, even though the 24 pack of cream of chicken soup, 8 boxes of crackers and the 36 pack of quick noodles are great and may help out in a local food emergency, there is something very satisfying about hauling a case of toilet paper through the door and stacking the rolls on a shelf. I feel like I have done my duty as the owner of a toilet and as a mother.

I'm not sure if it's because there are not a whole lot of appropriate alternatives, or because once you realize you are out-of-stock, it is not usually convenient to make a quick run to the corner store.

So does a cupboard full of my favorite brand of toilet paper make me prepared, or just weird?

A New Year!

For just a bit after the Holiday season, there is always a short time to catch your breath from both crazy schedules and a busy sales season. I'm not so sure which is worse: being so busy you don't have time to think, or having a little extra time and not sure what project to do first (if any). I'll let you know what I decide.

Good Help Is Hard to Find

If having a home business isn't bad enough, trying to find good help is neary impossible. Take a look below at what I have to put up with . . .



And seriously Mary, this isn't junior high art class. Get to work !

Know your weaknesses

Everyone has weaknesses and I think the key is to find out what they are before anyone else does.

I wish I knew how to sing. I wouldn't even care if I wasn't that good as long as I wasn't so bad that I was the talk of the birthday party. "Who was that singing? What was she thinking trying to hit that second birthday high note?"

Although I can wish, my fairy god mother isn't coming soon so I do the next best thing. I listen to and often sing along to my IPOD while I mow the lawn. No one (not including me) can hear my singing. How perfect is that!?

What are you telling me . . .

I'm somewhat accustomed people telling that I can't do something, or that "such and such" is not a good idea. Well,it's good thing I don't listen or my life as I know it would not exist. It started out as a result of being a stubborn pain in the rear as a kid, but as an adult, I realized most standard opinions and suggestions were not for me.

In my opinion, there are two overall ways to deal with life, a new job, stress, and just about any decision - big or small.

There are those that will explain either to themselves or someone else how something CANNOT be done. They will list all the negatives, "what if" nots and go over every which way failure will surely occur. [

Then there are those that will do anything in their power to figure out how something CAN be done. They will strategize, maybe pray and find every conceivable way how something surely will succeed even if that means adjusting their plan along the way.

Now how likely will the first person reach their goals even if the idea itself is a good one? How likely is that the second person may succeed even if their original idea is bad one?

Who do want to be? Who do you want to be in your company?

A Gallon's Worth of Gas

It's was a very busy day with the business with yesterday being Memorial Day. The entire day was rushed and I ended up running out of the house at the last minute with 2 kids in tow in order to pick up 3 more at school (not all mine - this time). Many times I have an errand to run as well, but not today. I like days like today when I leave the house in my sweats and if I'm lucky, no bra. Today was one of those days, but my sweats were all in the wash so I was wearing some very old ones that belonged to my husband complete with elastic ankles and a slightly torn crotch area.

I'm in a hurry, can't find my purse, but I don't care as I'm not stopping anywhere. Off I go. Half way on the 8 mile trip, the low gas indicator chimes. Then I remember that the crazy gas light has actually been on for a day and was registering "0" miles left the night before. There are no gas stations along the direct route, but what does that matter as I don't have my purse.

Great, that's just what I need - to run out of gas with someone else's child in the car. At least I remembered my cell phone - just in case. Once I picked up the kids at school, I had my daughter dig in the car for cash or loose change. We ended up with about $4.00. There was no way I was going to make the trip to drop of the extra child and then back our house, etc. So, I had to make a pit stop with my $4.00 in change.

So, with my extra long, elastic ankled, ripped crotch sweats and no bra, I handed the gas station clerk my change and asked for a prepay of 1 gallon of gas on pump #5. It wasn't my proudest moment, BUT if that is the worst thing that happens this week, I am very grateful.

And to all, a good night . . .

I will be honest with you . . .

This is how I start out many of my responses to acquaintances and strangers that ask about certain aspects of what I do. I have an online business and unlike what people expect I should be doing, I don't were a t-shirt randomly in public that advertises the business, I don't have a window decal in my car with the website info and I don't hand a business card out to anyone I see or speak to regardless of the situation. That's not to say I don't ever do an of these things as I have a worn a shirt with my business name and have business cards and brochures available when I do demonstrations, etc.

So where am I going with this and what am I being "honest" about when people wonder why I don't do these things? "Don't you want to promote your business?" is what is asked of me. Sure I do, BUT I don't want to be asked by just anyone how much money I make, can they get free products, how they can get started doing the exact same thing, where I get those "nifty little sample containers," do I really make any money at all, who designed and built my website (I did, by the way and I'm not for hire) and on and on. These are the types of questions I get when people know what I do. It's never, how much for such and such product.

The honesty part comes in when I don't think having those types of advertisements are worth the possible very few sales I may be missing. So if you ever hear me saying to someone, "do you honestly think I want to give you business advice while I pump gas and we listen to my crying infant and 4 & 6 yr old boys argue over who can or cannot see the airplane trail in the sky," you better back away.

By the way, don't take any of what I say as business advice. I don't do much of anything that the "experts" recommend.

On this Memorial Day, thanks to all service men and women, past and present. May God bless you and your family.