We Are Here

Today, as I was pushing a double-wide shopping cart around BJ's, I started to feel a little bit...I don't know...confused.  I knew what I was putting in the cart, but I couldn't believe it.  I wasn't expecting it to happen this soon.  I mean, when did we arrive here:

?

 

That's 48 rolls of toilet paper, folks.  48.  And 12 rolls of paper towels.  Because somewhere along the way, this happened:

 

 

My babies grew up a little.  A lot, actually.  And it turns out, as kids get bigger, they use more toilet paper.  I really didn't think about that before.  I thought about having to buy more food and needing a wholesale warehouse to keep my cereal and bread and milk stocked.  But not for buying 48 rolls of toilet paper.  Turns out it happens that way. 

 

Happy Monday!  If you run out of TP, I'm your gal.  Or, if you want to throw some around somebody's bushes and trees, I'll help then, too. 

 

  

 

In The (Pink) Tunnel

Have I really not written anything since September??  Sorry about that...I have a great excuse!  Remember at the end of my last post, when I announced that I was being promoted in my Mary Kay business?  I was choosing to promote myself, that is, because that's the way the wonderful world of Mary Kay works!  Well, that's why I haven't written lately!  I have spent the past nearly-4 months in a pink tunnel, working my Mary Kay business as much as I can, fitting it in to my schedule wherever I can, and allowing it to bless me beyond belief.  I am not kidding.  When I say "bless" I am not talking about financially, either.  Although it has definitely done that.  I am talking about blessing my heart and soul.  This Mary Kay business has been the reason that I have met some of the most amazing women and have gotten to know better some of the amazing women already in my life.  Furthermore, I have witnessed this business enrich their lives in many different ways.  Whether it's self-confidence, financial freedom, quality girlfriend time, or a number of other reasons, it is so fun for me to watch them grow and blossom in so many ways.  It really does remind me of why I got into this business in the beginning.  It is about so much more than selling lipstick.  So that's where I've been lately - in the pink tunnel.  If it hasn't had something to do with my family or Mary Kay, then it's been skipped.  It's been so much fun and so totally worth every minute!  By the end of the year, I will be a Mary Kay Sales Director!  I will have the honor and pleasure of training other new Beauty Consultants!  Then, by the end of February, I will have earned my first Mary Kay career car!  SERIOUSLY!!  What rewards they give for sharing this business!  And I am ginormously indebted to my husband and family for their support and faith in this journey.  It is not even close to being over - there is still much work to be done - but they have believed in me and taken on many extra duties to support me in achieving this.  I am so grateful to them. 

I will continue on in the pink tunnel until the initial phase of this promotion ends on December 31st.  Until then, I am looking for about 5-7 more team members.  Women who are looking to start something new before 2015.  Women who want to add just a little extra something to their life.  Women who keep their word and are excited to take advantage of a fabulous opportunity.  $100 might change your life - isn't it worth it to listen to the opportunity and see how it might fit into your life?  Please email me at avdayton@marykay.com if you have even the tiniest hint of interest.  You just might be surprised to hear the whole story and see the whole picture.  Why not gift yourself this Christmas with a new you, a wonderful opportunity, a life-changing gift?  You deserve it!

Merry Christmas! 

Clicking My Heels...

First, school started back on Tuesday.  Third grade and Pre-K.

Second, I STARTED A J.O.B. ON TUESDAY.  What?!?  I know!!  Working as the Asst. Director at the twins' preschool.  Being a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant is still a huge priority and I'm focusing on it more and more (see below), but the preschool job was an amazing opportunity to serve God thru my awesome church, educating children and sharing God's love with them.

Third, Adam has gotten the pick-up situation at school wrong 2 out of 3 days.  It's not generally this confusing, so hopefully we can figure that out.

Fourth, it has been in the 90s all week and my air conditioner stopped working yesterday morning.  And I couldn't get anyone to repair it until my landlord gave permission, which didn't happen until after he got off work yesterday.  So no one came to fix it until the least convenient time, right before I completely melted, which was about an hour ago.

Fifth, we received another speeding ticket from Germany in the mail yesterday.  That makes 2 so far.

Sixth, our dentist sent us a bill for $315 because they submitted the wrong date of birth for Audie and Tricare rejected the claim because Alan isn't covered (both officially "William").  Apparently neither place could figure out on their own that the one with the PEDIATRIC date of birth should be the one claiming services at the PEDIATRIC DENTIST. 

Seventh, one child pooped their pants today at the same time as the A/C repairman was here because apparently playing the Wii is just that exciting.  Then, in an effort to clean it up themselves (bless their heart, really), they ended up piling toilet paper into the toilet so that it was eventually completely filled.  Just completely awesome, really.  No, really.  Have more kids because it's awesome.

It isn't Friday yet.  Unless you're in Okinawa.  Which is about where I wish I was.  I'd love to close my eyes and slip on Dorothy's slippers right about now.


In other (better) news...I have decided to take the next step (quantum leap, really) in my Mary Kay business!  So, if you have it in you to buy a lip gloss or cleanser, I could use your support!  Even better - if you are a smart, busy woman looking to be your own boss, then I can get you there!  Or maybe it isn't you - maybe you know someone who would be great at this!  Maybe you know someone who could use a pampering facial or a special gift!  Let me know - even if they aren't in my area, I can work out a way to make them feel beautiful!  www.marykay.com/avdayton for shopping and contact info!!

Just In Case I Thought I Was A "Professional"

photo credit

 

In case you somehow didn't know, I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant (SHOP HERE!).  I have been one for over 10 years - in fact, I'll celebrate my 11th anniversary this August.  But I haven't always worked the business very consistently.  I love that about my Mary Kay business - I can work it when I want and put it on the shelf when I'm overwhelmed with other aspects of my life, or just focusing on other things.  Then, when I'm ready, it's there again!  It's fantastic and flexible.  Anyway, I'm choosing to work it more consistently than ever right now and it's been very beneficial for our family.  I started to consider myself a "professional" again.  I get dressed every day, instead of always wearing workout gear.  I always put on makeup so that no one would get all judgy if I approached them in public claiming to sell makeup, while looking like a mother of three who hadn't slept well in eight years (yep, Mary Kay covers that up).  I am going way out of my comfort zone, approaching strangers in the Target cosmetic aisles about my business.  I have been sharing the Mary Kay opportunity with anyone who will listen, in an attempt to both grow my team and enrich the lives of other women.  In those attempts, my team has tripled over the course of the past two months.  Awesome, right?  I almost sound like a professional, right?  Well, one of those new team members, we'll call her Jamie because I don't have her permission to use her real name, was ready to place her first order yesterday so I stopped by her house on the way home from the pool with the kids.  I was dressed nicely, even though we'd just left the pool, and still had on makeup.  Totally looked the part - not that I had to - Jamie is my pastor's wife and she is a mom who totally gets that sometimes we have on workout gear and look like moms who haven't slept well in ages.  But I try my best when I'm "working" to be professional.  So I helped her with her order while my kids played with her kids, and just as we were about to wrap up Anaya started yelling for me.  I responded that I couldn't come right now, but she insisted that she "needed" me, so I followed her voice to the bathroom.  Where I was immediately knocked down by the unmistakable smell of poop.  As I took in the situation, she told me "I didn't know I had to go potty," and pointed to her underwear.  Which were full of poop.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Luckily, Jamie was able to finish her order without me while I cleaned up the mess and, with much embarrassment, asked to borrow a pair of shorts for my daughter.  I know without a doubt that Jamie didn't judge me, but that doesn't change the fact that I was mortified.  As we drove the couple of blocks home, I realized the irony of the situation.  Sometimes you think you're a professional...and then your kid shits their pants and makes you remember that no matter how professional you become, you still have to clean up crap.