Don't Be So Callus!

Having a callus is no laughing matter. I know I have one on each foot. I have tried everything I can at home to get rid of it. I tried callus pads, they cushion a little but stil hurt. I tried filing, buffing, rubbing and soaking. I tried Callus removing serum. I wouldn't recommend that one.

I put the liquid on as directed twice a day. After two days, my feet were purple, peeling and burning everywhere EXCEPT where the callus was!! Not good. I decided to give up and try to find a podiatrist to help me out since at this point I was too afraid to even go for a pedicure!

A few days later I was looking through my latest Avon catalog to get ready for marketing. Lo and behold there was an Intensive Callus Cream. It looked more like a lotion, but what could it hurt. At this point anything to stop the peeling and burning was fine by me! So I ordered it.I have been using it for 3 days.

My feet have never been softer, smoother or happier!! The calluses are still there, but they are getting softer. They don't hurt anymore and I can actually wear shoes with some degree of incline! I would recommend this stuff to anyone that wants happy feet!!

Happy New Year

Wow, has it really been that long since I last posted??? Yikes. ok, New Year's Resolution #1, post more often on the blog.

Needless to say, the holidays with 2 small children and a small business are nothing short of chaotic. Throw in hosting parties and dinners and life is just turned upside down. I guess that leads to Resolution # 2, be more organized.

I am actually working on that one. We have a room in the basement that is separated from the main part of the basement. In an effort to get more organized and not look like our house is a vandalized Toys R Us, we have decided to turn that room into an office/playroom. Mainly for now we are cleaning out the old boxes and lingering crap. We did get a lot of the toys in there organized in some fantastic bins/shelves from IKEA. They have various sized bins that slide into tracks on the shelves. This allowed me to separate the legos from the little people from the puppets. I'm hoping it stays that way and we can work on other areas of the room!

What Kind of Pizza Are You?

The ladies over at Mommies Coffee Break posted a fun post. They want to know what your pizza says about you!

Here's mine:

What Your Pizza Reveals

Your appetite is pretty average. You don't go overboard - but you don't deprive yourself either. You are a very picky pizza eater. Not any pizza will do. You fit in best in the Northeast part of the US. You like food that's traditional and well crafted. You aren't impressed with "gourmet" foods. You are generous, outgoing, and considerate with your choices. You are unadventurous and boring. You should consider staying home when taking a vacation. The stereotype that best fits you is redneck. Your friends secretly agree.

What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

Completely Clean Anti-Aging Thermal Cleanser - Review

I just started using Avon's Completely Clean Anti-Aging Thermal Cleanser. It is described on Avon's website as follows:

"Our first-ever self-heating nutrient-enriched cleanser helps wash away visible signs of aging. Cleanser micro beads smooth surface texture & remove dirt & oil.
• Instantly smoothes skin's surface and helps relax pores.
• In 2 weeks reduces the appearance of lines."

WOW. I love it so far. It is yet to be determined if it produces any real results after using it for a while.

The first time I used it, I did get a little shock. Of course, totally my fault. I was in the shower ready to cleanse, wetting my face. I got the cleanser put it on my hand with a little water and started to rub it on my face. Whoa! My face started getting hot and I started to freak out thinking I was having some kind of a reaction. After a few seconds the warmness started to cool and my face felt slightly tingly. Then I looked at the tube again. Duh, THERMAL cleanser! (Note: On the tube it says, it is not recommended to store product in the shower.)

After my shower, my skin felt really clean and rejuvenated! I've used this cleanser twice since then. I love the way it feels, even that suprising little jolt of warmth! I'm not sure yet if it has had any lasting effect on my skin, but I sure hope so!

Goals for the New Year

Ok, so I was sitting here thinking about how I really need to get organized but yet I never do anything about it. Well I am going to start making my goals for the new year. I'm just going to list some here in no particular order:

AVON

• Keep receipts and organize business expenses better
• Organize stocked product in a better way
• Clean out basement office area and set up more functional
• Evaluate filing system and make changes as needed
• Evaluate brochure storage and tactics for getting them out there
• ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE!

That's all I have for now. I'll be adding to and tweaking that list when I can.

Thank a Soldier

Great new networking site!

There is a new networking site for WAHMs that just launched last week! It is a great site and it has great potential!

Check it out:

My WAHM Space

If you like myspace, you will love it! It has a lot of the same features, plus some different fun features that myspace doesn't have! It is just for WAHMs (Work At Home Moms) though, so you don't have to wade through all the bands, kids and teeny boppers like you do on myspace. Pure WAHM networking.

What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

Once you get there add me as a friend: MY wahmspace

Are You Mobile-ized?

Anita, over at A Tale of 2 WAHMs posted a blog about having a mobile-friendly website. I certainly think it's worth reading and considering! I have tried numerous times to surf the web on my PDA. It stinks, as most sites I try to visit are not very friendly to my PDA. The screen either looks all wonky or it is huge and I have to scroll up and down AND back and forth to read it. I end up getting frustrated and not going on the internet anymore.

Unfortunately for me, I can't do anything about my Avon site, as it's company issued. I can only change the design slightly. If you have a site you created or maintain, take a look and see if her article is of interest to you!

Avon's Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel

While the name is quite a mouthfull, using the product is much easier than saying it! You simply wipe the pads onto your skin and you are done.

I tried it for the first time last night and I swear I saw an immediate (although very slight) difference in my skin. One of my coworkers commented on my skin/cheeks today. Coincidence? I don't know, but I'm going to keep using it! I'll let you know how it works out!

What color RED are you?

A fun time out - one of the gals at one of my favorite message boards, MommysHelper, posted this. Enjoy!

You Are Red Orange

You are a very genuine person, although it takes a while for you to show the true you. A bit introverted, you desire respect and affection from those close to you. You are quite empathetic, and you have a true concern for the well being of others. Many people have warm, heartfelt memories of you - even if you don't remember them well.

What Color Red Are You?

The Daily Dose of Skin Care. Who’s on First?

• Cleansers always come first. When special exfoliators are used they come between cleansing and toning.
• Toning, if separate, comes after cleansing.
• Treatments come after toning. If multiple treatments are used, apply the lightest in consistency before heavier, richer, creamier consistencies.
• Eye creams are applied just before or just after moisturizers.
• Moisturizers are applied last, if they contain a sunscreen.
  

Jillian Dempsey's Tips to Creating a Midnight Hues Face

Jillian Dempsey’s Tips to Creating a Midnight Hues Face

Product Collection:
2 True Color Eye Shadow Singles 2 Nailwear 2 Glimmersticks
 Warm Black  Warm Black  Blackest Black
 Midnight Plum  Midnight Plum  Majestic Plum


Eyes

1. The easiest way to a smoky eye is to start with
liner. Starting right in the lash line, use
Glimmersticks Eye Liner in Blackest Black to fill in
between the lashes. This gives you a defined line.

2. Next, use the same product, Glimmersticks Eye
Liner in Blackest Black, to line the inner rim of
the upper and lower lid.

3. Follow that with Glimmersticks Eye Liner in
Blackest Black under the eye and give it a nice little
soft smudge.

4. Next, use True Color Eye Shadow in Midnight Plum
on the lid, starting right next to the lash line. You
want to keep the lower part of the lid the strongest.
Blend well to soften the edge and remove any hard
lines. The color should get softer and blend out
lighter as it gets closer to the brow. You want to
keep the dark color close to your lash line, not right
under your brow.

5. Finish up the eyes with Uplifting Mascara.


Cheeks and Lips

1. When you’re wearing a smoky eye, the rest of the
face should be kept in a neutral color that works
well with your skin tone.

2. For Cara’s cheeks we used Split Second Blush
Stick in Berry, a color available next year. In the
meantime, you can substitute with Split Second
Blush Stick in Tropical Peach. Dot on the “apples”
of cheeks and blend well.

3. On Cara’s lips we used a neutral gloss to help
balance the darker eyes. We used Brown Sugar
Glazewear Liquid Lip Color.

Nails
1. Dark nails aren’t limited to October 31st anymore!
They are chic and sophisticated for all year.

2. Best tip for wearing dark nails – keep nails short.

Pulling it all Together

1. You no longer have to keep a monochromatic look
for stylish makeup. Your lips don’t have to match
your nails. The rules are getting easier. You can
mix it up and have fun!

Indulge Your Inner Diva

Who doesn't have a little diva in them? I sure do! When I came across a blog called Diva Days, it naturally sparked my interest. I headed over and started reading. I opened the blog and read the tagline and thought - how great is that?? (If you want to know what it says - go see for yourself, lol) Here I am still reading a half an hour later. I had to tear myself away in order to get some work done!

Diva Days has a hodge podge of posts on it! It has everything from Funny Days - full of funny stories, to recipes, to posts defining Divas. It is written in a light humorous style that makes it easy to read and easy to keep you wanting more! Once I started reading, I literally couldn't stop. I suggest you stop on by and check it out!

Categories

I think I overuse the Label / Category section of my blog. I feel like I don't want to leave anything out, but now the list is so long that I don't want to post it on the sidebar because it would take up too much room!

Time to clean up/organize my little corner of the blogosphere.

Link Tag

I have been tagged. Twice. Once by Anita and once by Lara. I don't think I can pass this on, since I really don't know any other bloggers. I'll see what I can come up with. In the meantime, I'll post it without any tags listed.

Just copy paste THIS and everything below up until my Five links:

I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!

They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…

There are Five Rules:

1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you
5. Lara’s Place is the meme originator. (an active link is appreciated)

———– end copy paste ———————————–>

My Links:

1. My Avon Site - My personal Avon erep site. Shop online with me!
2. Myspace - My Myspace page for networking.
3. Babycenter - A great place for parents.
4. WAHM - A great starting point/ reference for those looking to work at home.
5. 
   

Are you giving it away?

Are You Giving It Away?
By: Jenn Givler

When you first start your business, one of the best ways to market yourself appears to be giving away your product or service for free. You figure, if someone has the chance to sample your wares, they are sure to become customers. But will they? What does this tactic really do to your business?

Some entrepreneurs employ this tactic because they don’t yet see how much value they provide for their potential customers. They feel insecure about how good they really are, so they give it away hoping for positive feedback. You can get stuck thinking that this tactic will bring you validation - that it will reinforce that you’re doing the right thing, and that you should keep moving forward.

Other times business owners give things away hoping deep down inside that it will producemore business for them – that the potential customer will try their product, fall madly in love with it and come back again, and again, and again. Sometimes that happens, but more often than not, you end up never seeing that person again, or they don’t purchase from you.

When you give away your products and services, you are subconsciously telling yourself that you don't value your products. You’re also reinforcing to yourself that, somehow you lack confidence around what you're creating. And, you are subtly sending those same messages to the people you’re giving your services to.

If you keep giving your products away without getting anything in return, you risk burning out. There's no reward for your hard work - there's no reciprocity. You keep giving, and giving, and giving - and not receiving. It's like a neighbor that constantly borrows your garden tools and doesn’t return them.

You put your potential customers in an awkward position when you give away your products. As a society, we expect to pay for things. Your potential customer expects to give you something in return for your items. They may avoid coming back to you because they don’t want you to feel that you have to give them something. Also, they may not want you to think they expect to get something for free all the time.

Many times, people don’t value what they receive for free. Think about it, when was the last time you received something for free? What did you do with that item or service? How did it make you feel? We feel better about the things we receive in exchange for something of equal value. So, when you pay for something, you tend to value it more. The same is true for your customers.

If you find yourself giving your products or services away, ask yourself why you keep doing that? How are you hoping this will serve you and your business?

If you need help to bolster your confidence in your products, ask your current customers what they like about the products. If you don’t have customers yet, ask family members for feedback. Then, really hear what they have to say. If they tell you your products or services are great - soak that in; believe them! Use that information to build yourself up.

To build up your confidence in charging and accepting money for your products, you can offer an introductory price. Or, you can offer a discount of some sort. Tactics like this imply that this is a special, one-time-only price. That way, customers understand and are prepared for purchasing the product at a higher price next time.

You must believe that what you're creating is wonderful. Your expertise, your knowledge, your care - goes into everything that’s created in your business. You are providing value to the people that you serve through your business. That's worth something in return. Without making money in exchange for your products, you won't be able to be of service for very long.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Jenn Givler is the Catalyst for Thriving Businesses. She teaches entrepreneurs how to break through fear, frustration and overwhelm in their business. Visit her web site and receive your free report: The 5 Reasons Your Business Is Still Stuck – Even though you’re doing everything right. www.jgivlercoaching.com

Reinventing the Avon Lady

Andrea Jung shares her experience as Avon's first female CEO during a lecture at Harvard Business School:

Reinventing the Avon Lady - News

Do you Squidoo?

Squidoo? What's that you ask? It's a website that has many pages or lenses as they call them, written by users. These lenses allow people to see a certain subject or topic through your eyes. You design it, you put the content and links you want on it. It's your lens.

Check it out here.

You can check out a squidoo page that I made a while back here.

Happy Squidoo-ing!!

Reese as Global Ambassador!

Avon announced today that they have signed Reese Witherspoon as their "Global Ambassador."

Read more about it here.

Over 100 uses for AVON's Skin So Soft!

Uses for Skin So Soft*
(As compiled by my fellow Avon Reps and their customers).

PERSONAL USES
1. It's a bath oil and after shower moisturizer.
2. It can be used to remove makeup.
3. Great tanning oil (no sunscreen).
4. Hot oil treatment to soften cuticles.
5. Great massage oil for tired muscles.
6. Cleans off tape marks left from bandages on skin.
7. Cleans ink off the skin.
8. Insect repellent.
9. Helps relieve itching caused by dry skin.
10. Cleans oil and grease off of skin.
11. Painting something? Use SSS to remove paint from the hands. (Instead of turpentine).
12. It soothes light sunburn.
13. Rub hands with it before washing, it helps get them cleaner.
14. Rub on dry, cracked skin.... helps heal skin in 2-3 days.
15. Put 1-2 cap fills in liquid soap and use it for shaving legs and under arms. Helps razor glide and leaves skin feeling smooth.
16. Pour a little into your Foot Saver to help moisturize your feet while you relax them.
17. It removes chewing gum from hair, skin, and most nonporous surfaces.
18. Cleans permanent ink off stamps.
19. SSS Original Bath Oil works GREAT on Head Lice!!!!! Saturate head and let it set for 15 minutes. Then rinse under an outdoor faucet, but the lice were gone!!!!!!! Of course shampoo hair a couple of times to get the oil out, but the lice were gone and stayed gone!
20. It kills ants instantly.
21. Spray on skin to relieve dry itching skin. Helps skin retain it's elasticity.
22. Wash hair with shampoo and conditioner like always and after it dries.... Use about the size of a dime of SSS and rub it in your hair. It goes straight in and leaves hair as shiny as the ads on TV, not greasy at all, just soft and shiny.
23. Use bath oil towelettes -- cover windowsill with towelettes to keep ants out.
24. (LICE) Sometimes, using a bath oil, like Avon's SSS, will work to loosen the glue, which holds the nits to the hair. There is a product called Neon Nits, which when sprayed on the hair, will highlight the nits so you can see them to then snip them out with a small scissors.
25. This is to let you readers known about something that helped me for a mild case of psoriasis on my elbows. My internist recommended that I try Avon's SSS bath oil spray. I did and it eliminated the psoriasis on my elbows.
26. Bath use, fill bath with water and a little SSS, very relaxing and gets rid of dry skin.

HOUSEHOLD USES
27. Sponge it around doors, windows, and on screens to keep crawling bugs out.
28. It's a good wood cleaner and conditioner for natural wood.
29. It removes glue and gum left from price tags and labels on glass, metals, and most plastics.
30. It removes soap scum from shower doors and curtains, and bathroom and kitchen figures.
31. It removes lime and hard water deposits from fixtures, tile, shower doors and windows.
32. It's an oil lubricant for fitting pipe joints that won't slip together.
33. It cleans ink off most vinyl and painted surfaces.
34. It cleans heavy oil and grease from nonporous surfaces.
35. It takes fur off of clothing.
36. Rub on brass ornaments or figurines to help keep them from turning dark.
37. Removes crayon from appliances and most painted surfaces.
38. Wash cupboards with it mixed in your cleaning water to keep ants off and out of the cupboards.
39. Use it to discourage hornets from building their nests. After using a hornet killing spray, remove the nest and keep the area sprayed with SSS. They will not rebuild there.
40. Use it to clean leather; it will also keep it soft and supple.
41. Use it on your air conditioning screen (filter)--your incoming air will smell fresher and the filter is easier to clean.
42. Rub all over windowsills to keep ants out.
43. It cleans paintbrushes easily and leaves them soft as new.
44. It removes gum from carpets.
45. It removes scuffmarks from patent leather shoes.
46. Use it on running rails for sliding glass doors and windows.
47. It removes "ring around the collar".
48. It removes liquid nail (paneling glue).
49. Two glass bowls or glasses stuck together? Drizzle a little SSS down the sides and they'll come apart easily.
50. It removes candle wax from furniture, carpets and clothing.
51. Hummingbird Feeders: To deter bees try rubbing SSS on the feeder surface by the feeder ports.
52. Maggots too!! You squirted SSS in can and lid, then later flushed with soapy water, you shouldn't have any bugs in cans rest of summer!!!
53. It is a great furniture polish!
54. Ok, we have a new use for SSS bath oil. Put it in one of the bottle that you attach to your backyard hose and then spray down the back yard! Will cut down on ants, mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies.
55. People around the outskirts of Eureka and surrounding areas (and sometimes in town) spray it on their rose bushes to keep the deer from eating them, and at the cemeteries on the flowers they put out there for the same reason.
56. Kills spiders.
57. It cuts grease and cleans dirt from range hoods.
58. Add a capful to wash water of clothes...acts as a fabric softener and keeps the bugs off clothes.
59. Spray on orchids and other flowers for moisture and to keep bugs away.
60. Cleans baseball caps. Just spray on and rub with toothbrush.
61. SSS I used this recipe mix one part SSS and 2 parts water on my tomato plants and kept those ugly old tomato worms off. I think that adding the vinegar would be fine too and would be nice not to have to shake the spray bottle all the time. I sprayed my plants about every 2 or 3 days. Worked grand!! Too late for most this year, but file this for next.
62. SSS bath oil also does a great job cleaning cherry wood cabinets.
63. Put a little in your mopping water to help keep crawling bugs out. (Not too much or the floor gets slippery.)
64. Use to clean windows.
65. Removes crayon from most surfaces.
66. It's a great insect repellent (or you can use Bug Guard, the actual SSS repellent)
67. Screens can be lightly sprayed with Avon SSS to repel no-see-'ums and tiny gnats that otherwise might slip though the screens.
68. Another use for SSS is it will kill those pesky earwigs. Spray it on & they don't return to life.
69. Also if you ever make candles, use clear wax and melt put SSS in it and harden works great for out side in the summer.
70. As a deodorizer, spray into air and let settle, kills those nasty pet orders.
71. Kids rooms if a child wets the bed, spray the bedding and sheets before washing and will give it a fresh clean smell.

ANIMAL USES
72. It's a great insect repellent for your pet. (As recommended in "Outdoor Life" and "Field and Stream")
73. Mix 5 parts water, 1 part SSS and mist on animals. Brushing it in makes their coats gleam and keeps insects off so the animals don't fidget in the show ring.
74. Mix in your pet's bath water. It takes the fleas off of them...and in between sprays them with the same mixture as in #2 to help keep them off.
75. Rub on your hands before and after working with your pets and farm animals. It will remove the strong smells.
76. Black Fly Spray For Dogs: Use as a spray or a dip. 1 cup SSS, 1/2 cup liquid detergent and 3 gallons of water.
77. For dogs dry skin mix 1 tablespoon of SSS per gallon of water and use as an after bath rinse. Or spritz your pet's coat once per week.
78. If your dog should get tar or asphalt on the pads of their feet rub on SSS and then wipe off.
79. Flea Bath: Use a flea and tick shampoo. Rinse, rinse, rinse so no soap residue is left. Follow with final rinse of 2 gallons of water mixed with flea dip and 1 capful of SSS. The SSS helps replace the oils lost in bathing and has the added benefit of repelling insects.
80. Flea Repellent: Avon's SSS Bath Oil. 1-1/2 ounces per gallon of water; used as a sponge-on dip (or as a spritz) has been tested and proven to have significant, but not complete, flea-repellent activity for a 6-day period. It should help those dry coats, too.
81. Does anyone use the Avon SSS bath oil on his or her chows? I have begun using it on Chancey and it has done wonders for her skin. Like, many chows, she has very dry and flaky skin, especially for being black. Since I started using that product, her dandruff and itchiness has improved tremendously and her hair has become shiny and smooth. It also serves as a great flea and tick protector. I use it about twice a month and I just spray it on her. I really like it.
82. I use the following on my horses and on my dogs when necessary. 1-cup Avon SSS bath oil 1-cup white vinegar 1-cup (or more) water 5 cc of essential oil of citronella (from the health food store NOT the type you burn to keep insects away that is available in a drug store) Mix in a spray bottle. Straight SSS works well for mosquito_s too but really makes your dog greasy.
83. (Barns) Use of an inexpensive fly control spray or a diluted mix of Avon SSS in water can be sprayed on barn walls and floor to discourage insects from hanging around or to eliminate them before putting in the new bedding. As time permits, and if you can keep your goats out of the barn for a few hours - let the barn stand and air out before re-filling with bedding.
84. Rub on your hands before and after working with pets and farm animals, takes away pet odor.
85. Avon's SSS bath oil massaged directly into the skin of your Rottweiler acts not only as a successful repellant and makes their dogs smell good but helps prevent drying and itchy skin.
86. A natural way to help cats with flea problems and flea allergies is to rub Skin So Soft into the skin. Once a bug, always a bug. Fleas don't like it either! Spread the word!
87. Cats: SSS IS SAFE FOR FUR LICKING -------The SSS plus is safe as long as it is the one without sunscreen.
88. Don't overuse the SSS. I just use the lotion, and rub it into the skin, not more than every few days. My cat's sensitive and we're being careful. Common sense is the rule. Sprinkling Yeast on the cat food helps, too. My cat's fur is medium-length; he's part Persian, and he's doing fine, no ill effects from the SSS. You can check with your vet to be sure if it's okay...

USES FOR HORSES
89. SSS can be used as a hoof polish. This will put a nice shine to the hoof without drying it. The farrier's wife will appreciate this one!
90. SSS can be used as a muzzle, eye, and ear enhancer. Generally we used baby oil but it was so messy. I tried SSS and it works great and still helps keep bugs away.
91. I have a show mare that has allergies and also gets dry skin very easily so I started giving her baths in SSS. What I do is bathe her like normal and then I put a capful of SSS in a 5-gallon bucket of warm water and sponge this all over her. Her hair coat dries silky soft and she quits itching. Works for her.
92. The bug guard towelettes we had last summer work great on the horse_s ears and around their eyes.
93. When I have to band (braid) their manes I use the Techniques Oil Sheen. It seems to help hold the braids a lot better and they don't try to rub them out.
94. The dry end serum works great in their tails as a detangler. Everything I have mentioned here I use faithfully on our show horses. The products are a heck of a lot cheaper than actual horse products. People see me using these products at the horse shows and start inquiring about them. I usually let them take my bottles and try them on their horses at the show, which usually ends up in a sale for me.

AUTOMOBILE USES
95. It removes tar spots from the car without damage to the paint.
96. Use it to clean vinyl dashboards, seats, and tops. It not only cleans, but also keeps it soft and helps to prevent any cracking.
97. After washing your car, use it as a tire dressing to keep them looking like new.
98. Put some on a small washcloth and leave in the car to help keep the air fresh and clean.
99. Wipe down vinyl surfaces inside your car. Cleans nicely and removes smoke odors left by cigarette smokers.
100. It gently cleans heavy grease and oil from skin and nonporous surfaces (great for Mechanic's Hands).
101. It removes tree sap.
102. Prior to traveling...rub SSS on headlights and grill. It makes insects and bugs easier to remove.
103. Shines vehicle tires
104. Open a towelette and use as an automotive air freshener.

*SSS bath oil is approved by the FDA/CDA only as a bath oil. This list is compiled by Independent Reps and Customers. Avon makes no claims of these uses, nor have they.