Thursday, July 31, 2014

Day 212-July 31, 2014

I didn't work on anything last night. I just took a night to figure out what I need to do. I am so tired of being tired and need to get out of my situation. I really am trying. I just need to get some more items one website and then will be set I hope. 

I will be adding more to the website soon but not soon enough. I really want this to work. I need to look at vendor shows and even setting up my own. I don't care if I am up all night and day. I have to get y business going. I will also start working on things at the ball field while I am getting my name out there. I think it is time to start making my to do list. 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Day 211-July 30, 2014

I really need to meet my goal. I need to be a sahm soon. I am normally one that just keeps to myself and then let's others do what they want. It's to the point that I don't clock in until I have to and as soon as my shift is over I'm out. 

I need to figure out how to keep my business moving forward. I just hate not having enough things made for the website. I have to get going. I am just so tired. Hubby said to decide what to put on there and start getting busy. 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Day 210-July 29, 2014

I didn't get a lot done last night. I finished the Prayer in a Pocket and started the Key Fobs that I think I can finish tonight and then off to the eye glass cover and bookmarks. I got up for my day job this morning feeling worse than I did yesterday. I think it is a summer cold but not sure. I really just want be at home working on my crafts but have not made it to that point yet! I am so tired. Hubby has been taking really good care of me and making me rest while I am at home.

I really want to be a sahm. I know how much I need to bring in but don't know how long that will take. I am going to look later today into getting a booth at the flea market after I get things made. I just have to get enough things made. I am also looking at places near my house to set up a table of crafts. I know it is going to take some time and once I get rolling I will really be rolling. I need to get more canvas because I don't think what I have will last very long. I have some smaller pieces that I can make things like the book marks and small thing with. I am also looking into making animals with my canvas. Like the crocheted animals. I just have to get some patterns but that will not be too hard.

I think that I will make a list of the places like coffee shops and beauty salons to ask about setting up in front of. I am going to look into vendor shows. If I can get enough things made before the 16th of August I can still set up at the car show my friend is hosting. I just have to give him my $25 fee when I get there. I will stay up all night if I have to so that I can get things made. I don't like waiting until I get an order to make things because then I really don't sleep and end up being up all night finishing it and then having to go to my day job on no sleep and then am miserable and cranky all day.

I know I am rambling but I am just so tired. I hate listening to people talk about other people like they are still in high school but at least I am seeing the true side of people.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Day 209-July 28, 2014

I didn't work much on my crafts last night. I was not feeling well after being in the sun all day. I feel much better today though and since the kids will be at my mom's until Wednesday so I have plenty of time to work on things.

I was thinking about more ideas and this would help my friends that are in direct sales. I see those beauty boxes and most of them are trial sized items and samples. I was thinking about doing something like that. Have boxes for sale and then stuff them with samples and business cards. I would get paid for the shipping and packaging but they would get free advertising. All they would have to do is mail me the samples and the cards. I am going to post on FB today about how many of my friends could use some free advertising that do the samples and see how many would be interested. It is a win win.

I will sell the boxes for about $10 each and see what kind of bites I get. I have been so tired lately and I am so tired of working for someone else. I have to listen to co-workers talk about people at the other plants like dogs and act like they are better than them. I don't want to be a part of that. It makes me wonder what is being said behind my back so instead of listening to it I am working on ways to get out of here.

I have not talked to my hubby about this idea but as much as I love the products of the companies that my friends are with and love being around that, this would be a good match for me and I could still do it and my craft business. I would still have it on my etsy shop but they would take the place of the LadyBug Boxes. Since I am not getting any hits on the boxes I am making, I will give a little more time on it and if there are still not bites then I will move them to being prizes for the contests.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Day 208-July 27, 2014

Spending most of today at the ball field with hubby. Things are getting better. I finished the 10 cups of friendship tea and the 10 prayers in a pocket. Will do the glass cases tonight. The. On to the bookmarks and key fobs. Gonna love it. Then once I get all 10 done I will put them in the boxes to be ready to ship. I can't wait. 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Day 207-July 26, 2014

I woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather. I think that I will get something to eat and then get started on my crafts. I have several things I want to make today and get things going. Once I get the 10 LadyBug Boxes done I will get moving on to other things. I hate feeling like this.

These are the kind of days where sitting on the couch watching movies and working on crafts is where it is at...so to speak. I like my job and the people that I work with but I don't want to work for a corporation being someone's assistant for the rest of my life. I want to be the one with the assistant. I will work on the crafts and sell them. Then when I get to the point where I can stay at home it will be time to start looking at going bigger. I eventually want to have my own direct sales company but for now I will be doing the website and then eventually move to the flea market and vendor shows. One little step at a time.

I am talking to hubby about building me a craft room once I get enough inventory built up to need a place to store them. I will get there but if it ends up taking longer than the 365 days then it does but I will get there. I have wasted too much of the year on things I hoped would work instead of going with my passion.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Day 206-July 25, 2014

Well, today is my stepson's birthday. He turns 19 and is spending his birthday on deployment in Kosovo. I know he is 19 but he is still my baby boy. Tonight I am cutting pieces and getting things made for my LadyBug Boxes. I didn't work on them last night because I was not feeling well. I got up this morning feeling bad and it is days like this that I wish I could just stay at home and work on my crafts while watching Netflix instead of being at work. I really need to bog down and get things done. I went through and got together more patterns to use so that helps that I have more than just a few things to get going with.

I have stayed so exhausted and I don't know why. It is not like I am staying up all night and partying or that I am not sleeping. I know it is my B12 that is off. I still have not gone to get the shots like they want me to but I am okay for now. I just really want to be able to stay at home. I have to have $2100 a month in orders to get to stay at home. That is what I make a month now but I have to figure out how to get that much in orders. That is something that will come with time. The more I get out there the more I get in orders. I am also going to make some things that are going to be just for vendor shows and some just for website. I have been talking mom into getting her site going so that she can make some money too.

I do the LadyBug Boxes but was thinking about LadyBug Bags for vendor shows. I just have to find a place to get some good boxes and get some bags that will not cost me out the butt. I have the labels designed so that will help on that part. Hubby told me that he would make sure to do my shipping until I can get to being a sahm and then he would help when needed. I have decided that Saturdays will be shipping day. That way I am shipping all at the same time. I was thinking about getting a postage scale to use to figure out postage.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Day 205-July 24, 2014

I plan on sitting tonight and cutting out pieces for the items that  I am making for the LadyBug Boxes. I will start stitching tomorrow evening. I would love to be able to be at home working on things. I hate sitting here knowing that I have plans for what I need to get done and can't do anything until I get home from my day job. I sat with hubby last night and we were talking and I told him that I regretted finishing college. He told me that it would take away from family time for me to work my full time job during the day and then be at school in the evenings. I told him that if I were to go back to school that it would be online classes and that I could do it in the evenings after the kids were in bed. He said that he would fully support me on that but I don't know what to major in. I will have to see what is out there.

I am still planning on doing my business full time but it would be nice to have a degree to work with as a back up plan. I will post more later.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Day 204-July 23, 2014

I have put the preorder price on my Etsy shop at $15 for the LadyBug Boxes and on August 1st they will go to $20 when they go live. I am only offering 10 of the preorder boxes. I am excited to get this going as part of my shop. I really do need to get things going on my website and get my business going. I really want to be a stay at home mom. I am also looking at bags to make and set up somewhere to sell. I have ordered my new business cards and also looking at ordering some postcards that have the saying for the LadyBug Boxes on them so that I can put with the ones that sell. All items will be in a Ziploc bag in the box so that everything stays together. I have to go to Wal-Mart when I get off of work to get the key rings. I will then finish at least one and post a pic of what comes in it on Facebook, Pinterest and a couple of other sites so that people can see what they are paying for and also on the website.

Don't get me wrong. I like my job and the people that I work with but I would just like to be able to be my own boss where if I have a morning like this morning where I am fighting a headache or don't feel well I can rest instead of still having to get up and go to work. I want to be able to just pack up and leave when hubby does for his umpiring instead of having to wait until the next day or a few days later and then driving to meet him. There is not sense having to take two cars like we do now when we are going to the same place. I have finally reconnected with hubby and the kids and I don't want to lose that.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Day 203-July 22, 2014

I sat down yesterday and made a list of things that I thought would be good reminders of self worth. I have had an issue with this most of my life but talking to hubby this past weekend I was reminded that even though I am a wife, mother and grandmother that I am still worth something. I kept forgetting that. I was also thinking about where I wanted to go with my business and while looking around on Facebook, I saw an ad for those subscription beauty boxes and it got me thinking. How about a box that caters to the inner beauty? I started looking at patterns to see what would make me remember my inner goddess and did find a few things. I decided to make "LadyBug Boxes" and they will have $30 in product for $20 and no shipping fee. There is no subscription per month but a one time purchase. These will be on my website starting August 1st. There might be a preorder depending on how things go. Here is what you will find in the LadyBug Box.

  1. Bookmark to remind you that you have your place in this life.
  2. Eyeglass case to remind you that your visions are in reach.
  3. Checkbook cover to keep you balanced.
  4. Key fob to remind you of where you are going.
  5. Prayer in a Pocket to remind you that there is power in prayer.
  6. Cup of Friendship Tea to remind you that you are never alone.
I am really looking forward to releasing these LadyBug Boxes and I hope you love them too.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Day 202-July 21, 2014

Sitting here at work it occurs to me that I can do pretty much whatever I want with my business. I was looking online for some ideas (of course I tweak them to be my own) and it occurred to me that I am always putting bobby pins in my kids' hair to keep their bangs out of their faces so why not make some hair pins? I have been looking at some small patterns online and I think that I have some small patterns at home as well.

I am going to go through my patterns tonight and see what I can make. I am going to just make whatever I want and then post on my Etsy page and see what bites I get. If something stays on there more than a couple of months it will go on sale. After the weekend that we had my mind is finally relaxed and clear and the ideas are still flowing.

Day 201-July 20, 2014

Well, we spent the weekend in Knoxville and had a ball. It was so relaxing and I got to have some time to not only reconnect with my kids but reconnect with my husband too. It also gave me a chance to clear my head and get my thoughts together and it also made me remember why I am doing what I am doing. I want to be able to just pack up me and the kids and travel with hubby. It was awesome to get to sit at the ball field all day and the kids and I worked on ideas for some crafts to sell. I did take my craft bag with me but didn't work on anything because of spending time with the kids and hubby. The kids were in the pool and hubby and I in the hot tub and the entire trip was paid for by the organization. The only thing we paid for was food and gas. The hotel was covered. It was amazing and relaxing but also in a way it was life altering. Didn't think that I would be relaxed again and be able to feel this good again.

I didn't realized until halfway through the weekend just how far apart our lives had become. The kids always doing activities at the church, hubby always on the field and out of town, me just working and being at home. We were in different lives. It felt good and made hubby and I realize that working is not the only thing here. We need family time. We are a family and it is time that we act like it. I am now more determined to get this craft business off the ground. I have to get back with my family.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Day 200-July 19, 2014

Well we are in Knoxville TN and hubby was supposed to umpire on Tennessee's baseball field and got rained out. We had to go to get his gear and the head grounds keeper gave us a VIP tour. Then we came to the hotel and the girls got in the pool and we got in the hot tub. 

The more I think about things the more I think going to my crafts is the best thing. 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Day 199-July 18, 2014

Well, I sat with hubby last night and he helped me talk things out and come to a decision. Direct sales is not the route I should be taking. When doing direct sales, I have no control over anything. It is all dependent on parties and people are pretty much partied out. No one wants to have to do all of the things included in throwing a party. Working with my crafts is where my passion lies apparently. The part I liked about direct sales was not having to make the product...only sell it. But I didn't like not having control over how I did things.

With direct sales you have guidelines to follow and certain things you are allowed to do and cannot do. Plus you pretty much do all of the work and then give the money to someone else and wait to get paid. Hubby asked me a question last night that got me thinking. He asked, "Why are you doing direct sales? You are booking parties, getting orders, submitting orders, handing all of the money to someone else and waiting to get paid. If that is the kind of thing you are wanting then why not stay at the job you have where you create and submit orders, file other people's papers, do all of the work and then wait to get paid?" That got me thinking. I would be just going from one "job" to another and that would completely defeat the purpose of working for myself. How can you work for yourself if you are selling someone else's product, going by someone else's rules and waiting for someone else to pay you for all of your work. That is not being your own boss. That is just changing bosses. What was I thinking?

I told him that I was going to spend the weekend looking at my patterns and getting some things made to sell. When I do this, I will be able to keep all of the money from the items that I make and sell. In the meantime, I can be looking at what I really want to do. I want to be the one that runs the direct sales company or at least have my own business where I have people that work for me. I love my crafts and that is what I keep doing back to. I can make baskets and fill them with things and sell the baskets and I can also look into items to do like these monthly cosmetic boxes that people are buying. Actually being my own boss is what I am working for...not just changing jobs. Looks like hubby knows what he is talking about after all. But with my crafts I can work on them in the hotel room when we travel and I can work on them at the ball field while hubby is on the field. As the kids get older and if they want to join in then I can do that too. I hate when he is right.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Day 198-July 17, 2014

I am so tired of being tired. I was up most of the night trying to figure out what to do. I have 8 online parties set up and two have been going for almost 2 weeks and still no orders. I can't get home shows booked and when I message my upline I get no response or I get "book your own party or get family and friends to book" after sending them the message that I had my own party booked and no one came and that I cannot get family and friends to book. It is like they are not listening to what I am asking about. I am even doing a fundraiser and nothing is helping. It is killing me. I am not going to pay for the website and more catalogs and more product when I cannot get parties booked. I have two home shows booked and thinking about asking them if I can do online parties instead. I was looking at my plastic canvas patterns last night and thinking about going back to it too and see which one I have more luck at. I am going to make some items and put them on etsy and then still promote both the website and the etsy shop and see which I make more money at. That will be the one that I do. I hate spending money that I don't have for a website and more material and not at least getting what I spent back. Hubby said to give it until the end of the month and see what I am looking at. In the meantime I am going to (like I said) make some crafts and see where I end up. I would like to have my business (whichever one) to be steady enough that I get to quit my job by the end of the year. It is just really frustrating when you are with a company and they tell you to reach out if you need help and then don't listed or don't respond when you do reach out. I love the products that ThirtyOne offers and use them all the time but still having issues getting the help that I need. I did Initials Inc and Avon as well with the same problem. My ultimate dream is to have my own company where I will give the support that I am lacking with these companies. I did get a little more support with Avon but there were so many reps in my area that I could not get any orders. I am just at a loss as to what to do. I really don't think I have ever felt this lost.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Day 197-July 16, 2014

My head is killing me. I put the labels on my mini catalogs last night and then my youngest daughter put the larger catalogs in the hostess packets. I am going to keep trying to get parties booked but doesn't look good. I am going to get with my upline about getting online sales and individual sales. I want to get this going but can't seem to get there. I tried crocheting again and still having issues learning. I may have to do some plastic canvas items to sell and see what I can do. I am so exhausted. I still feel so lost. I want to do something that is mine and direct sales is someone else's but even though I love the products I have been with ThirtyOne for almost a year and have booked 2 parties (one at the end of this month and one at the end of next month) and thinking about cancelling them just because I don't think that I can do this. I am so tired of failing because I can't find something that is true to me. I wish I could get the support that I am giving my Boot Camp ladies. Maybe keep looking into the boot camp thing. That seems to be pretty good but they are 12 week programs and I am only doing one at a time. I have been trying to find myself and redefine myself at the same time and it is not working.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Day 196-July 15, 2014

I am labeling my catalogs today and then this weekend I will take them around. I am also going to try crocheting again too tonight. I did an event on Google+ for the fundraiser I am doing. I am looking for pretty much anything that will get me to being a sahm. We have my stepdaughter and grandbaby again for a few days so that is good. Hubby said that he is working as much as he can so that we can get more financially stable and can get me to be able to quit my job. Glad I am not in this alone.

Day 195-July 14, 2014

I worked on trying to book as many parties as possible for August 1-15. No luck though. I have a meeting with a Hostess Saturday and then if anyone makes it I will have an open house type deal at my house that afternoon. I am still waiting on some responses to some messages that I sent to some of the local salons about a battle of the stylist contest.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Day 194-July 13, 2014

I have been talking to some people about getting some parties booked but no one is biting yet. I also have been messaging some of the local hair salons Facebook pages about basket parties "aka" Battle of the Stylists parties. I still have to do the hostess packets and labeling the catalogs and looking to price some windshield shades to put my advertisements on.

We have our grandbaby for a couple of days so that is a plus. I better head to bed because I have to get back to the day job in the morning. This weekend was not long enough.

Day 193-July 12, 2014

Spending today working on my online parties. I have a meeting set for next weekend to get with one of my hostesses to talk about her party and get to know her a little before the party. I have labels to put on catalogs and also hostess packets to make. I need to get all of it done soon. I am just so tired and still getting rid of this headache.

Still can't seem to get out of this funk. I am trying to stay busy to keep my mind off of everything but I think it is just taking a toll on me.

Day 192-July 11, 2014

Been a long day and hate that I can't get rid of this headache. I am getting so tired of working my life away at a job where there is no advancement when I really just want to be a stay at home mom. Hubby was talking about all of these things he is getting to do with this new organization and I was trying to get him to understand that it just feels to me like his life is changing but mine is not.

I am still working my day job and coming home to the kids while he is going out there and seeing new things. It really has be depressed.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Day 191-July 10, 2014

I think that I am going to take the day off from ThirtyOne. I am feeling sick to my stomach as well as having a migraine and being in an all around bad mood. I hate feeling like this. Then the boss is out of town these next two days so I have to handle getting all of her info to keep things running. Hubby and the kids came home yesterday and it was great. We spent some much needed time together.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Day 190-July 9, 2014

We found out today that the Fall 2014 catalog comes out to us on August 1st so I need to get my butt in gear and start booking sneak peaks for the month of August and showing that will be retiring. Also, the catalog goes live September 1st. I am loving this. I need, these next couple of days, getting my list of retiring items together and getting things set up for the online sneak peaks and live ones. I am going to look at setting up at the local Shoney's and do like an open house kind of thing. And do one at the house. I just have to get the info out there. I am going to have one on the 19th so that will help...I hope.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Day 189-July 8, 2014

Well, my stepdaughter and granddaughter went home last night which means I spent the first night at home alone and I didn't like it a bit. The kids are having fun as mom's and hubby will be picking up another game tomorrow. I don't like that he is gone for days at a time but it is a good opportunity for us. I keep telling myself that.

I think I will be sitting at home and working on things for my catalog parties I am planning. I am also going to try to book multi-hostess events. If we have a catalog party and have 5 people there that place orders that means we need only $40 orders from each one to put it in as a qualified party. I am going to offer a small hostess gift if the party doesn't reach $200.

I am going to post on Facebook that I am placing an order tonight to see if anyone bites. I have one that said she would place an order but never has. One wanted to join but decided to wait. Then I have two parties set up for home shows, one online party and one online fundraiser.

I really want to make this work. I am also thinking of seeing if there are any other reps in the area from other companies that want to meet up with signs and to a tailgate party. I am going to see if there are any people that have kids in sports that would be willing to do a tailgate party for me.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Day 188-July 7, 2014

Well, hubby came home for the night and my stepdaughter and granddaughter are staying with me this week. The younger girls are at mom's. Have not heard from my stepson much because he has been on guard so much because of the riots at the bridge in Kosovo. I will be glad when his deployment is over with and he gets to come back, at least, to the states.

I got my catalogs in the mail the other day and order forms. I started my binder and labeled my catalogs so that much is done. I just have to get my pink envelopes and mini catalogs in and then I can start handing out the mini catalogs and getting things done.

I have been having a little trouble getting the parties booked but I have an idea. I am going to talk to everyone about booking catalog parties and if they don't want to do them at their home or over dinner then I will offer to do them at my house. I will also offer Bags and Booze parties or Women and Wine parties. I can get the wine for free from my uncle that makes his own. I need to get one empty one from him to put in the bottle thermal so that I can show everyone what it looks like.

I am also going to make a list of the beauty salons in the area to see if I can have a Customer Appreciation Party with them. I would come and show the items and take orders and answer questions and will tell each stylist to invite their regular customers. They would then have a contest to get the hostess rewards and the remaining stylists will get a free gift from me for "participating."

I need to get things rolling. I hope that I can get things going to the point that I stay busy. We will see.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Day 187-July 6, 2014

Well, today is the day I take the kids to mom's. I am going to miss them but will enjoy getting to do what I need to do for my business. Hubby is still at his tournament and he likes this organization. He is going so well and I am so proud of him. He is a little stressed and frustrated but he is just getting settled in. He is not liking being away from us for so long but that is okay. We will work it out.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Day 186-July 5, 2014

I take the kids to mom's tomorrow and I think that my stepdaughter and granddaughter are coming to stay with me. I have only talked to hubby for about 5 minutes all day but got a text from him this morning. I hate that he is gone but life will not change for me while he is gone. I still have to be here with the kids but even with them at my mom's for a few days I still have to watch my money to make sure that I have the money for gas to pick them up on Friday. Then still have to figure out how to get through next week for gas to get to and from work. Just seems like things are getting better for him but not for me. I am still stuck. My life will never change.

Day 185-July 4, 2014

I spent the day relaxing and booking one more party for August. Spent the evening eating next door at my inlaws and shooting off fireworks and playing games with the family. Not a bad way to celebrate. Unfortunately my hubby was not there. He is out of town working. I am taking the kids to mom's Sunday and they will be gone for a week. I hate that they will be gone that long but it will give me a break and give me a chance to get some things done with my ThirtyOne business.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Day 184-July 3, 2014

Well hubby leave soon. I hate being at work knowing he will be leaving. I am off work tomorrow for the holiday but he will be away. We have plans next door with my inlaws and things will be okay. I will get through this. I just have to get used to him traveling. This is good for us.

He was telling me how his schedule is going to be and looks like he will be bringing in about $3000 a month with this new organization. That is more than I make working 40 hours a week. We had a little incident last night though. We had a pipe bust in my bathroom but my father in law came over and helped him fix it.

That made hubby think. What if something happens while he is gone? He was talking to his dad about it and his dad told him that he would handle it for me if something happened. That is one of the good things about living next to family.

I heard from my son yesterday and he told me that he would text me every day to check on me while hubby is gone. I think it is sweet but what is he going to do all the way from Kosovo. Such a momma's boy. LOL.

Day 183-July 2, 2014

Well we are approaching a 3 day weekend. I am working two home shows for later in the month in online Facebook events to get things going and then I have two online parties that I am doing. I am going to work on those tonight while spending time with hubby because he leaves in the morning for 13 days. The kids go to my mom's on Sunday so I will spend time with them before they go and then I will have 5 days at home alone. Working my day job during the day and then I will be getting things done for my parties in the days everyone is gone. I have to get the hostess packet together so that we can get her started.

I didn't sleep much last night and hate that I am having to work today instead of being with hubby his last day home. I will get to see him for a little bit tonight before he has to go to bed. He will be leaving at 6am to go. This is why I want to be a sahm because I know I will not have to miss out on things like this.

I had to take my middle daughter to the doctor yesterday when I got home from work. She had two bites on her from a Brown Recluse spider. They gave her a steroid shot and an antibiotic and she will be okay, thank God.

Well, better get back to work. Just keep telling myself I will be a sahm soon. Just have to keep positive.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Day 182-July 1, 2014

We are now officially in the second half of the year and looks like things are getting a little closer to my goal. Hubby is in this new organization and they are hooking him up and looks like we will have an extra $3000 a month in the house which is more than I make in a month. I got my catalogs yesterday and order forms and will be ordering my pink hostess envelopes this week. I am so excited to be back in ThirtyOne. Hubby texted me today telling me that he got his next assignment and he has 14 games in 6 days and that they are not done yet. Just those 6 days he will make $770 for those 14 games. I am already feeling less stressed and more optimistic.