Where did we go wrong?

On my way to work yesterday morning, I was flipping through the radio stations and stopped on one with Christmas music....once the music ends, it's the normal morning radio show. I'm not really paying attention at first, but then it finally catches my attention. They were discussing the animated classic, "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer". Yay! One of my all time favorites, I can remember my brother and I sitting in front of the TV watching the CBS snippet that led into their 'special programming' for the evening..so exciting!! There's Burl Ives as a the narrating snow man.....oh how I still love to hear him sing "Silver & Gold" and "Holly Jolly Christmas". There's Rudolph and his cute little nose and it's squelch as it lights up.....Oh Hermie...go be a dentist you little weirdo elf with the funky hair! Such fond memories......

And then I hear: Why was Rudolph still being aired when it was nothing but a show about bullying and sexism. HUH?? Yes...Rudolph was bullied by his father and Santa...Hermie was bullied by the head elf...and the poor Abominable snowman bullied by Yukon Cornelius! How can this horrid cartoon still be allowed on the air?? Rudolph's father is sexist as he tells his wife and Clarice that they can't go out to help find Rudolph. What kind of message are we sending our children!! Again, my head says, WHAT???

When did we become this society that tears apart an innocent Christmas cartoon? Why do we have to psycho-analyze every detail of a classic Christmas story? Where does this craziness stop? Am I the only one who thinks Rudolph is just a sweet Christmas story of how a Reindeer with a red nose becomes Santa's lead reindeer one foggy night? Does anyone else enjoy the songs and the stop-animation? Or are we all supposed to tell our children they can't watch this horrid cartoon from 1964 as it's sexist and full of bullying? I am just floored that people have become so anal.

For those of you that disagree, well...sorry, my kids love Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,as do I..we own it on DVD and my oldest daughter watched it for MONTHS after we got it. It's a classic in our household, and will forever remain that. For those that want to over analyze it...maybe you should put down your copy of "Psychology for Dummies", go outside and play in the snow for a while and remember what it's like to be a kid again.

Merry Christmas! We'll have the carrots out on Christmas Eve just for you Rudolph! <3

Tis the season.....

Did you go out Black Friday or even on Thanksgiving night to shop the "oh so great" deals? I decided to stay away from it this year. I've done a lot of my shopping online so far. I also found a couple great options to get cash back on my online purchases. Ebates and Mr. Rebates! They have numorous stores listed that offer a percentage back to you on your purchases. You are sent a check or paid via Paypal on a quarterly basis. OR you can have your earnings donated to the charity of your choice. 

I check each one to see who has the better perk before shopping. Once you decide, click on the store through Ebates or Mr. Rebates to shop, as they have no way of tracking your purchases without going directly through their links.

I love finding extra "perks" to shopping. :)  Here are the links so you can join too!

Ebates

Mr. Rebates

Happy Shopping! Stop back and share your deals!

~Rhonda

This is week 2 for me

This is technically my 2nd week of Thrive by Le-Vel. I started out with the daily capsules, but have added the shake as well. I'm not a shake person....they don't usually agree with my stomach. I have IBS, so certain things really set it off unfortunately.  However, I haven't had that problem with Thrive. Another thing about shakes that I don't usually like is the texture...there's nothing like lumps of nasty tasting powder in my drink...now I sound like Bill Cosby from his album "Wonderfulness" LOL --- but anyhow, that's just showing my age.
The Thrive Shake mix is good! I've made it a couple different ways, and plan to experiment more in the upcoming weeks. I've made chocolate shakes using Silk Dark Chocolate Almond milk, and today I made a Raspberry shake using skim milk, fresh raspberries, ice cubes, a Tbsp of vanilla pudding and Thrive. It was AWESOME!

Start your own 8 week Thrive challenge!  www.rhondad375.le-vel.com Jump in on the Industry Shift! www.rhondad375.industryshift.com It's FREE to join!

Come Thrive with me!

Over the years, I've been the anti-healthy person....if it was a fruit or vegetable.....no thanks. So, I've relied on vitamin supplements all my life.  It's been a few years since I've taken any type of supplement, but was in the market for many reasons.....mostly my weight. Yes, I've had two babies...but the weight isn't from them, it's just from me.  So, I needed to make a change.

Exercise is key, I realize this. But by the time I get home at night, get dinner, bathe the kids, etc etc, I'm too tired to even think about exercising, and unfortunately, not being a morning person, my mornings are too hectic to fit in a workout.

So, I've felt stuck. A friend of mine kept posting on Facebook about this supplement that she's been using. And as much as I tried to ignore it, her posts kept catching my eye.....well finally I asked her about it and she sent me a sample of Thrive W --- a vitamin supplement plus more, specially formulated for women. Now, I had my doubts for sure....but.....I was quickly surprised!  I had energy. I wasn't eating everything in sight. I was able to focus on what I was doing at work and not start 100 different tasks.

Follow me on my new journey. I will be posting how I feel, what changes I notice, weight loss, etc on my 8-week Thrive Challenge. If you'd like to join me, visit my website: http://rhondad375.le-vel.com/IndustryShift or http://rhondad375.le-vel.com/

You can become a promoter and JOIN FOR FREE!  It costs nothing to become a brand promoter. You can earn your Thrive product for free by having two people place an autoship order.  Contact me for more info. This is a new opportunity, and I'd love to have you Thrive with me!

"The THRIVE Experience is an 8 week premium lifestyle plan, to help individuals experience and reach peak physical and mental levels. You're going to live, look, and feel Ultra Premium like never before!  Results from the THRIVE Experience are high impact, and can slightly differ for everyone – depending on which areas of your lifestyle need the most help – and depending on your 8 week goal. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get in the best shape of your life, or simply be the best you can be, we know the THRIVE 8 Week Experience will get you THRIVIN' in all areas of your life! Individuals on the Experience will enjoy premium support and benefits in the areas of:

• > Weight Management > Cognitive Performance
• > Digestive & Immune Support > Joint Support
• > Lean Muscle Support > Pain Management
• > Anti-Aging & Antioxidant Support

THRIVE by Le-Vel is something that's hard to explain, and challenging to describe... it's something that can only be experienced."

Nail Polish fun

I love playing with nail polish, especially in the summer time when I can paint my toe nails. Avon has a HUGE assortment of nail polish, my daughter and I tend to pick up a bottle with each order.
I found this fun technique today on how to swirl your polish:



I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I can't wait to try this, as I know my Joy will love it.
If you would like to pick up some of these great polishes, please check out My Avon Page  for easy, direct to your door delivery.

Enjoy your day!

Hello!

It has been quite some time since I posted anything on my blog. The past year has been a whirlwind. We welcomed our newest addition, miss Priscilla Sue to our family last July. Two weeks later we purchased a towing company. I spent the summer home with both of our girls, while also doing book work for the new business on top of our repair business. After returning to work, I worked nights keeping up with paperwork for the businesses...after making dinner, taking care of the girls and getting them off to bed. I'm not sure whirlwind is the correct term.....

Anyhow, I'm back. And I plan on sharing some fun stuff with you. Whether it be new cards or scrapbook pages I've made, or specials with Thirty-One, or make up tips with Avon...I hope you'll check in and see what's going on! :)

Birthday Greetings

So, after I finally made a clean and organized workspace, I couldn't WAIT to start using it! So, I created two birthday cards for a couple friends with birthdays coming up.

I used Concord Crush for the card, with Daffodil Delight and Whisper White. The daisy is a sizzix die, cut in Daffodil Delight with a silver brad in the center. I adhered it to the card using Dimensionals. Then I stamped the flowers and stems with Awash With Flowers (a personal favorite, because it's a two-step stamping set. What does that mean? You stamp the outline, then you stamp the solid). The stems are in Certainly Celery, the flowers are Daffodil Delight and Elegant Eggplant. In the background, I sponged Baja Breeze to give it a little sky color. The "for you" stamp is from a very nice set called "Great Friend".

My next card is a silly one. I made this one for my best friend, as I think she deserves a nice pina colada for her birthday. :)

Background is Tempting Turquoise, such a bright, fun color! The bear is my buddy..he's from the set "Under the Stars" (such a GREAT and versatile set). He is stamped on Sahara Sand using Basic Black, then I stamped him again on Whisper White and cut out his muzzle and belly and adhered them to the Sahara Sand so he is two-toned. "Grrreat!" is also from "Under the Stars", I stamped this on Whisper White paper using Melon Mambo ink, then cut it out to look like a conversation bubble. I cut some scraps from one of the summer paper packs using the scallop border punch to make the "grass" and the border. The pina colada is from my favorite set from the summer called Tropical Party. I colored it with markers so it could be colorful, then adhered it next to Mr. Bear with dimensionals. The sentiment is from the set "Good Friend".

I hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed creating these.
Happy Stamping!
Rhonda

New Year, New Me :)

Every year I resolve to get myself more organized, and I have yet to have succeeded. But I refuse to give up! So, first on my agenda was to get my work space cleaned up! How'd I do?

I think I did well, considering the cluttered mess it was before. No, I didn't take a before picture, that was way too embarrassing!

Merry Christmas! What? You're not ready?!?

Good morning! Yes, I said Christmas and it's only September! Well, we can never be ready too soon, can we? This is a first for me too. I decided to offer a series of three Christmas card classes. At each class we will make 5 cards of 3 different designs, so each person leaves with 15 cards. If you attend all 3 sessions, you'll have 45 cards, 9 different designs. And ready before St. Nick is ready to deliver presents!!
So, here was card number 1:

Using our wonderful ornament punch and matching stamp set, old olive card stock run through the big shot in the finial press folder, a little Jolly Holiday DSP, stamp ink is cherry cobbler & old olive...Presto! Card #1 :)

For our next card:

This was CASE'd from our current 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog, with a few changes. Card stock is Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White & Old Olive. Stamp set is Punch Pals, punch used was the Scallop Circle, ink was Old Olive and StazOn black. We used water color pencils and blender pens to color our little friends on top.

And last, but certainly not least:

Our friendly S'more Man! This was a CASE from my upline Wendy Groves..we had made a scrapbook page with this guy. I did however forget his arms...which are made from the snow flake punch. Card stock: Very Vanilla (run through big shot in the Perfect Polka Dots folder) Snowflake stamp from Punch pals, Early Espresso & Crumb Cake card stock punched out with the Word Window punch, markers to make buttons & eyes. I used Pacific Point for the buttons with the white gel pen to make the button holes, tangarine tango for his nose and basic black for his face. Use the square punch for his body and then round the corners. I "toasted" him by sponging Crumb Cake around his edges. If you prefer him to be burnt (as I love do with my marshmallows over the bonfire...LOL), you can use Early Espresso. :)

Stay tuned for scenes from our next Christmas Card class on September 18! :)

Thank you cards

Two more cards that I made this week. Both are thank you's.




Using the new level one hostess set "Because I Care", Marina Mist, and Early Espresso.



This card uses Awash with Flowers, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist. I masked the flower & butterfly, and then sponged Marina mist around them. I also used the "thank you" and the flower border from the Because I Care set along the side.

Cards to share!

So, I've been busy this week with something FUN for a change! Making some cards!!
My friend requested a birthday invitation for her daughter, who plays soccer. With the Just Soccer retiring set, the Build-a-Bear Big Shot dies, this is what I created:



I used Tempting Turquoise and a sponge, with a cut out of a cloud for the sky. I learned this awesome technique from Carol Anne's blog:

http://mirrorimage.typepad.com/caroleannes-1st-blog/2010/06/pocket-silhouettes-10-min-colour-challenge.html

(Thank you Carol Anne!) and then sponged the grass with Green Galore. The Build-a-Bear is made with tempting turquoise, rich razzleberry, and crumb cake

My first attempt at a Challenge :)

Here is my first attempt at a challenge on the Late Night Stampers group. My creation:


Pretty simple. I used Rich Razzleberry paper, the Lattice Big Shot die, scallop edge, Rich Razzleberry ribbon, and paper from the Cottage Wall DSP. Using the lattice cut out, I traced the pattern onto a piece of DSP and cut it out to become the background, attached to lattice with 2-way glue, then to card. To make it "pop" I made "stitching" around the lattice with a white gel pen. Then added a simple border with the scallop edge maker and Rich Razzleberry ribbon & bow.
Hope you like it :)

Birthday Invitations for little boy

My friend was going to purchase invitations for her son's birthday party...but I stopped her and said "I'll do it!!!" So, here is my creation. I hope you like it. He loves John Deere, so I went with green and yellow and natural...a very simple layout. I used SU! blender pens and Chocolate Chip, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black & Handsome Hunter to add color to the stamps.

Psalm 34

I just started reading a new book, The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd...yes, a book for ME not because I have to for class, but because I want to read it. The first chapter, Influence Beyond Measure, really puts a price on motherhood, if you could actually do that. As mothers, we have an influence over our children that is unbelievable. What we do with it, is how our child will develop. And how motherhood isn't always looked upon as a real job. No, we don't get paid but we put in many long hours and hard work every day. Our job is beyond what any congressman, athlete or super star does, but our pay is much less. Yet, it has more rewards than any of those careers.
The end of the chapter gives a scripture to read and reflect on, I thought I would share it:
Psalm 34 (from the Good News Bible, New English Version)
"I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him. I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together! I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. His angel guards those who have reverence for the Lord and rescues them from danger. Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with him. Have reverence for the Lord, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good. Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to have reverence for the Lord. Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. The good man suffers many troubles, but the Lord saves him from them all; the Lord preserves him completely; not one of his bones is broken. Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punsihed. The Lord will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared."

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

Every year we go up in the woods and pick out our Christmas tree. It's not a perfectly trimmed tree, it's a natural straight-from-the-woods tree. It is my favorite thing to do. We've done it since before Joy was born. She loves going too. She helped Daddy drag the tree out of the woods...and she had fun in the deep snow.

Wow..it's almost February

Where has the time gone? Christmas was great. Joy had so much fun this year talking about baby Jesus, Santa, decorating the Christmas tree, everything was such fun for her. It brought back to me how much fun it was as a child. To see everything through her eyes is so wonderful.

We had the week off between Christmas and New Year's. The day after Christmas, we took the girls (Joy and her 2 cousins) to Stuff It in the mall. It's like Build-a-Bear. They all had gift certificates and were able to make their own animals. Joy picked out a pink bunny and named her Puppy. Then they played on the playground in the mall.

We had a couple snow days off as well. The weather here has just been COLD. We've gone for a week not hitting much higher than 10 degrees. The wind chill is below zero, and snow is coming. I have all the Christmas decorations to put back in the barn, but I can't get to the barn through the snow drifts! I'm ready for Spring!

I'll try to post pictures at another time. I never seem to be able to size them so that they fit. But I have tons of pictures to share. I'll try to do that this week sometime.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and this year brings you much happiness.
God Bless.

The laugh is on me...

I had an address label out to send something, but then didn’t need it, so I stuck it on my post it dispenser. I got up, came back and it was gone. I couldn’t find it.
Someone comes in the office and says “You’re working too hard…..you’ve got a label in your hair”……ROFLMAO!!!

I had thrown something in my recycle bin, and missed, so must be when I bent over to pick it up, my hair hit the label. ROFL!! Oh brother…is it 4:00 yet?

The laugh is on me...Scrap That - - the LABEL is on me!

Happy Hump Day!!

The weekend cometh!

Wahoo!!! It's Friday!!! And it's a 3-day weekend...BONUS!! So, what's up for the weekend??

Well....let's see. I have a painting project to finish in my kitchen. I've repainted my bottom cabinets and refinished my countertops. Now I just need to do the top cabinets and window trim. Hopefully I'll get to do that this weekend. It looks a bit odd now since it's green on top and red on bottom...LOL. I'll post pics when I'm done of before and after. :) I'm quite proud of it.

I know my mom wants to take the grandkids to the new playground near her this weekend. I hope the weather cooperates.

I also need to get some filing and cleaning up done with my desk. I've become so unorganized. I want to correct that, as it only makes my life miserable. We've also got to make room for the credit card machine in the shop, and get the office organized.

I just picked up some marigolds to plant in my big hog boiling pot in the front yard. Joy will be looking forward to doing that with me. She loves to get in the dirt...just like her mother.

Other than that, it should be a good weekend. I hope the weather is nice, that'll just be a bonus. :)

Mother's Day

I had the greatest Mother's day, I'm still in shock over it!! My daughter was the PERFECT angel ALL day long! It was so nice!! She must have known it was a special day, she was just so sweet. Helpful, loving, I think the aliens came during the night and switched her! LOL!! Not that she's horrid normally, it was just nice to have a day that she was very agreeable, obedient and pleasant. It was the greatest gift ever!

Sad day...I'm gonna miss you Sandie :(

One of my closest friends at work left today. She's moving to TX be with her grandbabies. The office will never be the same without her. She was my friend, my "work" mom, my sounding board...I am going to miss her terribly. I had the other girls in the office write down their goodbyes, memory, etc on journal boxes, took lots of pictures at the going away party we threw her and put together an album for her to remember us by. I hope she likes it. I wrapped it and gave it to her as she was leaving with a note to open it when she got to TX. I knew she was sad to leave, so I didn't want to make it any worse. I think this way, if she waits to open it, she'll get a good laugh instead of a cry. I hope she has a safe trip.