This Month's Flexi of the Month is a Peacock

What do YOU think???  You can find it, as well as many other lovely Flexis at My Lilla Rose website.  Make sure you check back here on Wednesday to read about what I'm doing for work... there's something awesome you can participate in... I want you to have a chance at winning an AWESOME prize!!!

New Giveaway. Go Enter!

Tammy Trayer at Mountain Woman Journals is AWESOME.  I hope you will check out the review she did for me AND read up in her part of the internet.  She's a lovely person.  I'm blessed to know her and work with her!  Also, enter the giveaway!

Working Wednesday #2

Last Wednesday (October 23, 2013) was an interesting day, for sure!  The weather forecast was iffy, but I went out just the same.  Setup was a little damp because it had rained, but our feet dried quickly.  A quiet day turned a little windy.  I put stakes in my tent.  They were no match.  The wind flipped it... of course, while I was nursing.

God is ALWAYS mindful.  A wonderful family who would've likely passed right by if not for the dire circumstances, stopped to help.  Amy held me so I could hold myself together.  I literally felt like our Father placed a Godly Mama in my path in that moment to hold me and enable me to NOT freak out.  She just hugged me and spoke soothing, comforting, uplifting words to my heart.  Amy was wonderful.  Before she started hugging me, she had directed assistance.  At least one of my peers (a spot away from me) came over to right my tent.  It could've been more... things were a bit of a blur for me.  Seriously.  I didn't actually cry (because I was held in a wonderful tight hug that enabled me to hold it together), but my eyes were sure full and I really couldn't see clearly.  Amy directed her children who were with her, Amber and Tim, to work together to right the tent.  They also partially unzipped my walls to hopefully prevent the "kite effect" that has caused liftoff.  Amanda was standing in shock, I think, holding tight to her stroller, but provided such sweet words of comfort when I was able to stand on my own.  (I really feel like Amy helped me to keep standing in some literal and figurative ways!!!)  Praise God for being so very mindful of me!  He is ALWAYS Good!!!

As a result of my cover taking flight, I was very on edge through the rest of the hours we were at the market.  (8:08pm when I looked at the clock just now.)  I can only imagine that my concern over the wind and resulting anxiety over discovering that a metal part of my tent was completely broken was quite constricting and prickly... pushing potential customers away rather than attracting them.  Praise the Lord, for He had provided a few early customers, which resulted in a day of sales almost exactly half what they were the previous week (my first week outside).

While I would not wish the tent/kite experience on anyone, it was (as are all dark cloud sort of trials) thickly lined with beautiful, wonderful silver!  I Praise our Father God for providing customers before the experience AND the experience itself because it provided me such sweet interactions as He provided me with the wonderful Godly family who helped me so tremendously!!!  Isn't life just AMAZING!??!!

I was early blessed in my day to see Stacy at my tent.  She came to see my setup and expressed pleasure at it's appearance.  I sure do want to see hers now!  Maybe soon.  She also came by as she departed and we exchanged reports of the day.  She, also, had done about half as well as the preceeding week.  SO interesting!

My husband came to walk around with our children (and look for something among the vendors at the Market).  In speaking with the fella I could see who helped right my tent, my husband learned that where I was usually did about the same business as the busier looking part of the market.  Very interesting.

I was also blessed with a departing interaction with neighboring vendors who stopped to chat with me before they completely left.  I honestly cannot remember WHY they initially stopped, but through the brief interaction, I was able to learn a couple interesting things... one of them something that I used to believe I was very lonesome in doing/knowing/believing.  So... Father is using my work as a Lilla Rose Consultant to enable me to surround myself with others who know stuff.  I feel very much as if He is working to build a network of people who will be important to me for a good long time.  I sure look forward to seeing how this impression plays out!

Working Wednesday #1

I've been working Wednesdays for a little while now.  I display Lilla Rose hair jewelry at a local Farmer's Market.  It's a lot of work.  Enjoyable.  The first time I had all five of my children with me.  That was rough... but workable.  The next time, I took all my girls (4).  That was workable, but also very stressful because my third daughter is 4 years old and has quite a lot of trouble being obedient.  The next few times she stayed home with her brother (and Daddy) and the two oldest girls and baby girl came with me.  The two eldest are 9 and (now) 7, baby is 4 months.  The older two are, for the most part, very well-behaved, obedient, and helpful.  They did help.  And they learned!

Over the course of our working Wednesdays, the girls have taken over customer interactions a great deal.  For the most part, they are a huge draw for my business and their knowledge about the Flexi Clip and other hair jewelry is tremendous and really entertaining (it seems) to those who stop to talk with us.

I have to tell you, though, as much as we do enjoy the business, I'm pretty sure the main reason we have this business is to get us out around lots more people.  I have a number of ideas about the reason for that.  What it boils down to is, basically, ministry.  I decided, when I decided to begin trying to earn money, that I would dedicate my efforts to the glory of God.  So, it just makes sense that He would use this business as a way to get me amongst those to whom He would have us minister.

For instance: last Wednesday the first two to stop to talk to us were two old guys who spoke to us about their grandchildren... specifically granddaughters.  The last few people to stop to talk to us seemed like they simply wanted to connect to others.  Sometimes a positive connection to another human being is all we need.

This business opportunity is tremendous.  It's not a widely known company/product, so the market is wide open.  I think of it as 31 before everyone knew about it!  I'm so excited about the opportunity it is for me and could be for you, too!

Lilla Rose Sale On Now

It won't last long.  This sale ends tomorrow!!!  I've been so busy I couldn't get a good post up before now.  I'm sorry if you rely upon reading here for such news.

If you'd like more timely news about such things, make sure you LIKE my Facebook business page (find it by searching TNJNT in Facebook).  I'm working to develop a newsletter... if you want in on that, make sure to leave a comment or become a customer!  My customers get an email directly from Lilla Rose about sales as they go live!  Sign up for my newsletter (to the left) to get news from me about sales and other opportunities.  How awesome is that!!???  Just another reason to LOVE Lilla Rose!  ^_^

 

 



Cut-off Chopstick No More

So, I used to wear a cut-off chopstick in my hair.  It was durable and functional.  It did the job and held it firmly in place all day.  It was cut specifically so that it was not visible.  I wore only the chopstick, no pins or ponytail elastic.  So it was convenient.  However, since the day I received my first Flexi in the mail, I have worn nothing else.

The Flexi is Lilla Rose's signature piece of hair jewelry.  It is not the only one, by far!  Each Flexi is pretty in itself, of course.  The thing that has surprised me is how much prettier I feel wearing my Flexis!  It's such a small and simple thing, but it has done GREAT things for my self-perception and enjoyment of my hair.  Seriously.  It's sorta silly, I know, but it's really been WONDERFUL!

I recently ordered the hair sticks pictured in the second picture collage below.  I am excited to begin experimenting with them!  There will likely be more on that later, so be sure to check back!  :)

All hair jewelry is not created equal!  Lilla Rose has such wonderful variety.

Every piece is lovely.  We really do have something for everyone!

Maybe you missed a special lady's September birthday this year...

get ready for Christmas by purchasing hair jewelry

in the color of her birth month!

Hair sticks are just SO pretty!!!

Click the picture above

and LIKE my Facebook page to hear more!

Excited About My Creations

So, maybe it's 'no big thang' to some out there, but I'm getting increasingly excited about my photo creations through picmonkey.  It's FUN.  I don't think much that most folks consider fun is actually fun.  For instance: Disney... so NO fun!  Water parks: NOT fun.  Shopping for stuff: yep, you guessed it, I don't consider that fun.

Fun, to me, is something that is enjoyably productive.  I need to change my thinking so that the things I must do are also FUN.  I recognise this as one of my weaknesses and know I need to work on it.  :)

The picture collage creations I've composed lately are for my Lilla Rose business... so this is also a plug for that effort of mine.  ^_^  I love my job!  It is stressful to now be a work-at-home Homeschooling Mama, truth-be-told.  It would certainly be easier to work away from my children.  Yet, even knowing that, I'm grateful that I'm able to do this work.  I'm grateful that they are able to see me work hard and consistently (even when sick as I currently am).  I'm grateful that they are able to go to work with me (my vendor shows, Home Parties, and Farmer's Market days).  How many other jobs are Mamas able to take their children to work AND at which the children might be a help!??

Yes, believe it or not, my children are sometimes helpful at my shows and events.  Kat is definitely a little saleswoman!  I want to record her in action one of these days and post it for you to see.  She's surprisingly wonderful at sharing information about Lilla Rose!  Ria is able to demonstrate (quite well) how to use the Flexi in her own hair.  Tea is a good little attention getter (she's gotten a few people interested by showing them her hair).  Jmy... well, he and EmJ are just so dang cute that people want to stop and talk and interact with them.  Jmy and Tea came the first Farmer's Market day and not since.  I've had people asking about them each week since!

Without further ado:

This is the one I just created yesterday.

For comparison sake:

This is my first effort with picmonkey and the photo program on my computer.

They are both pretty basic and I do have some other more fun and exciting creations.  I'm hoping, actually, to enter a few into the County Fair.  I'll share those when that is finished (assuming I accomplish my goal).

I linked up: I Heart Nap Time
Give me the goods
 

A Little Experimenting

I've been playing with my hair a lot lately.  It's been a LOT of fun.  I've learned a couple things about myself.  1: I actually LOVE to style hair.  I just don't love cutting it and dealing with chemicals.  2: I really do love doing hair (it's that big a realizatio that I must repeat it!) and REALLY long hair is pretty difficult to work with!

I'm going to keep playing... I even wake up early to do a couple styles while it's still too dark out for me to leave for my walk.  Yes, I really REALLY enjoy playing with hair!  I guess I forgot after working in a salon all those years ago... I did NOT like that experience, so I think I just figured I didn't really enjoy hair, generally.  ahwell

What do you think?  :)

If you like what yo see and want some,

go to my website at lillarose.biz then add /TNJNTGivingGodTheGlory.

Lilla Rose

I'm a LILLA ROSE distributor!

Have you heard of Lilla Rose?  I hadn't heard of this company before this month.  If you don't know me in real life, you don't know how much i love hair.  If you don't know me in real life, you don't know how much hair i have!

I was a licensed Cosmetologist before we moved.  I didn't love working in the business because i didn't really love to cut hair or work with chemicals.  However, i LOVE to style hair!  I also love pretty and sparkly things.  I rarely can wear them, though, because i get distracted by them.  But this... this is out of sight... but not entirely out of mind.  I'm not distracted by it, but DO feel prettier for wearing something pretty!  :)  I'm very pleased!

Are you interested?  You could go to my site and order, host a party online (or in person if you live near me), and/or become a distributor with me.  I'd love to work with you in any and/or all those ways.  Just let me know if you'd like to work with me!

These pictures were taken after i wore it all morning and then fell asleep with it in my hair.  I didn't notice it (and i did sleep on my back).  The braid was significantly less fuzzy before i wore it for hours and fell asleep on it.  ahwell.  You definitely get the idea, at least.  :)

The flexi in my hair.

Now you can see that my braid is folded!

Yeah, my hair is pretty long.  :)

A close-up.

This is August's Flexi.

Each month has a special, and this is it for this one.

Another Day

Today was pretty quiet. We didn't do anything out of the ordinary. But I do want to share that the girls wanted their hair done before Daddy got home. This time they both asked for it! :) Actually, first Kat asked me to do her hair up (pony tail was fine) until Ria asked for her hair to be done. Ria wanted a braid and about half way through putting the braid in place, Kat pulled her pony tail out and wanted a braid too. So, they both had braided hair! Because Kat's isn't quite long enough I had to do a French Braid and she actually did quite well at the whole NOT moving for hairstyling bit. I was pretty impressed! They were both very pleased with their hair and pranced around for Daddy's compliments once he arrived home. You really would think I made a big to do about the way I appear for lunch with Jess, but I honestly do NOT. My big effort is to have a meal on the table and us sitting down to share it together for the majority of the 30 minutes he's home! So funny... my girls!

I did walk today, though only for 45 minutes. I was going to go for 60, but it was lightly sprinkling about half way in (20 min.) and I was worried it was going to storm like it did yesterday. So, I played it safe. It totally did NOT storm, though it did come down hard enough to have soaked me had I been out for the 80 minutes I want to do! My biggest accomplishment today is completing a few rows on the newest baby's special blanket made by Mama. Although it is basically the same pattern as Ria's and Kat's, I'm making the little popcorn parts orange, which takes quite a bit more time than keeping them white. I figured it was appropriate since this baby's stuffed animal (which I have not yet made) will be Tigger. :) So, his or her blanket, hat, and jacket will be white and orange. ^_^ I think it will be quite cool... and VERY cute! I'll definitely have to get pictures of the babe all dressed up and propped next to Tigger.

Oh, I caught Ria, in a picture, doing something wonderful! Unfortunately, Kat saw me as I was taking it, so it's not compeltely candid. I wanted to have it as part of this post, but my uploading program is having a hissy fit, so I'll have to edit for that... It's a picture of Ria and Kat sitting in the chair in which we usually sit for reading time together and Ria is reading The Book of Mormon to Kat!!!! Isn't that awesome and wonderful!!? It would be cool enough if it was The Book of Mormon Stories, but it's the full on BoM!!! She has access to it, but hasn't really done this sort of thing before. It's her very own copy and she sometimes takes it down to look at it and read it quietly to herself. I just feel and felt so very happy over this moment in time that I was able to catch in a picture!!!! ^_^

Cute and Funny

Jessie's CLASS
So, today is the day Jessie finished preparing and presented his class. He did a good job in the presentation of it. I have to say, though, that this whole thing seemed really important to him! I must explain this point. If you know Jess, then it will NOT surprise you to learn that not much of anything fazes him most of the time. Usually he's as cool as a refrigerated cucumber even when the situation might call for some quick movements. When he was in his externship for his Culinary degree, one of the main complaints his supervising chef had about his behavior was that he did not seem to have a 'sense of urgency'. If you know Jess, you're sitting there nodding your head in complete understanding of this "problem". If you don't know Jess, let me illustrate further.

Totally off track info about Jessie
Jess doesn't react to most things. It's amazing to hear him laugh out loud (and music to this chica's ears, I must add!). It's actually frightening to see concern or fear in his countenance. There was once that I was much more extremely alarmed than I would have been in the situation alone because of Jessie's concern. We were driving home from the temple and we were eating pistachios (in the shell). Ria was actually doing quite well at unshelling them, but I guess she decided to try to "suck" a nut out of a shell the way she saw/heard her Daddy do. The hoover move wasn't nut specific, so she inhaled the nut AND shell and alarmed me AND Jess by sounding like she was choking to death. Jess was actually driving (SUPER unusual on temple trips) and I looked at him just as he was reacting. His face was this horrible death mask and he was breaking and swerving into a right hand turn off of the main road onto a side road. We actually left rubber on the road (driving the VAN!). When I saw his face my heart jumped in my throat BECAUSE he looked really concerned (for Jess, of course) and then his physical reaction (the way he drove the van) was just more than I could handle. I didn't actually start crying, but I felt all the same physical reactions I feel along with tears of relief. So, perhaps this isn't such a wonderful example if you don't know Jess, but it's close to the best I've got.

I'll go for another one... when Jess is mad he doesn't usually look mad. His face doesn't get all screwed up in a scowl (most of the time). Instead he throws or breaks things and every once in a while he yells. While this may also not be the best example, I "throw" it out there to further illustrate the difficulty in "reading" this husband of mine. He's a subtle read, for sure! I'm like reading a youth novel: it's all out there. Jessie is like reading an adult mystery novel: the hints are so misleading that you're TOTALLY surprised by the wrap up at the end! (Ok, so this might be a bit more extreme than Jess normally is, but I think hyperbole is appropriate given the kind of "read" I am!!! heeheehee)

Back on track now
My whole point in sharing ALL that tangent information (isn't it amazing how geometry figures into literary work!!) is to share that Jess was snippy with me and the girls as he was trying to finish preparing for his class this afternoon. He was short with me when he was trying to locate alternate recipes for the packet of recipes he wanted to have available. And he was short with and annoyed by the girls when they were hanging around him as he worked on the computer. If you know Jess AND me, then you might think I was talking about myself because when I'm under stress this is the behavior I generally exhibit. However, I was the cool cucumber today; believe it or not!

While this is not terribly extreme behavior for most people, it's VERY telling when paired with the man called Jessie. He was concerned, excited, and generally all tied up about the upcoming class! (My opinion, of course, from my point of view.) WOW... he cares! ^_^ Of course he does... I mean, he considers it "OUR" Ward. Most everyone knows him and of course he would care how he performed in front of them. It's just really REALLY rare for him to show any sign that these things/thoughts effect him at all!

I just finished reading the above information to Jessie and he asked me to make note of some information I have, however inadvertently, left unmentioned to this point in my blog. I will quote my DH, "I am Super Human. No explanation needed." I'm sure you may want an explanation, and I will happily explain further if anyone leaves a comment letting me know they actually WOULD like further info on the Super Human I married. :)

A Cute and Sweet Kitty Kat Moment
I have been rather anal with the girls about picking up their toys for Jessie's imminent arrivals home since he "laid into" me about the house last week. I must add here that while Jess didn't actually yell or say much of anything most people (women specifically) would consider mean or nasty, there are degrees and that confrontation was a level 3 relative to our relationship. As I was letting Ria know she needed to clean up in preparation for Daddy's arrival home, I went to the bathroom.

The next thing I know Kitty Kat is hollerin, "Daee, Daee..." this is, of course, how she says "Daddy." I thought she was confused, thinking Daddy was already home. She came into the bathroom and repeated, "Daee," but this time I could see her body language. This little lady communicates at least half of what she's trying to say with the way she looks at things or with the things she does with her hands. So, the body language bit with Kat is SUPER important!

Okay, so Kat comes in and says, "Daee," while patting her head. I asked her if her head hurt (which didn't really make sense since she was saying Daddy, but she does pat her head to tell us it hurts). She shook her head and repeated the previous with an added look up onto the counter in the bathroom where we keep the brush. AH HA! It came together. "Do you want Mama to do your hair for Daddy to come home?" I asked her. She smiled really big and nodded her head in the way that makes her go a little off balance when she's standing up. (Very cute, in case you were wondering!) So, I told her I would be happy to do her hair and she turned around and backed up into the place she and Ria stand when I do their hair. I put it up in a little half up pony-tail. When she turned around she was standing in the way she does when she's looked for feedback on how pretty she looks. And, of course, to this adoring Mama she looked like a beauty queen. So, I told her that I thought she looked beautiful and I was just sure her Daddy would love her hair! She was super duper pleased about that and went prancing off!

When I told the girls that I saw their Daddy Kat went, as she usually does, running around the house yelling, "Daee!" until he actually came inside. I honestly don't remember any comment from Daddy about her hair, but I think she was just pleased as punch to feel pretty for her Daddy's homecoming.

The most interesting part of this tale is that I haven't ever made a big deal of personally doing my hair or anything for when Jess comes home. Nor have I made a humongous issue of making sure the girls are combed or brushed for when Daddy comes home. So, it seems to me, that this is just a little girl being sort of prissy in a really sweet adorable way - that I actually LOVE... I've always wished to be a girly-girl and I'm just happy as a bee in a field of flowers that my girls are (or are becoming what I have wished to be).

My Big Activity for the Day
As lame as it is, my big activity for today was the accomplishment of clearing off our dining room table. It was not piled high, or anything, but there were a number of things pushed up against the wall. While it was totally not a big undertaking, I was so super tired after lunch! I actually laid down (more to get Kat to take a nap), but didn't get up for an hour because I was so exhausted. I didn't get any sleep, of course... my issues with sleeping during the day strike again. It's not a conscious chosen problem, because I actually gave myself permission to fall asleep, but it didn't work. It's just a difficulty I've had for as long as I can remember. Me and naps just don't jive, man! I keep hoping that this time I'll be able to nap, at least for little stretches , once the new baby is born. I'm sure that fatigue was a contributing factor to the PPD I endured for way too long after Ria was born... I couldn't sleep at night because she didn't (often) and I couldn't sleep during the day because I just couldn't, most of the time... and then I had to work on top of it. What a mess that was! Anyway... obviously I'm not too impressed with my accomplishment of the day since I've totally changed the subject. ahwell....

Ria and "Her" Movies
Have I mentioned before how MUCH Ria loves to watch movies? Well, she DOES! Since we stopped watching TV, movies have been, for the most part, a reward for doing other things, with Ria. Usually, in the last 9 months or so, she gets to watch a movie after reading class. Currently, though not this week, she gets to watch a movie after reading, math, and testing classes (which happen one right after the other). She doesn't mind and actually seems to really enjoy "math class," which, as it happens, is really more of a penmanship class. But I call it "Math Class" since it's the first time we have actively worked with numbers in a focused manner since we've lived here.

I try to have a "Girl's Night" at least once a week with the girls. This is basically a night that we have a "picnic" in my bedroom or in the laundry room and watch a movie. Both girls LOVE these times and Ria asks to have one of these nights on a regular basis. I know part of her desire is for the time we spend together, we three, but perhaps the bigger part is the movie. :)

On a rare day, I will actually let the girls watch a short movie (or two) for no reason what-so-ever. Usually this happens on Sunday, which Ria hasn't quite put together yet. And the short movies are our Living Scriptures (they are about 1/2 an hour long). Ria LOVES to watch movies for "free" as it were! She just thinks it's THE coolest thing. It's not a good habit for Mama because Ria asks regularly for this sort of thing after each time she gets it (so by Wednesday she's usually stopped asking for a "free" movie).

If you ever wonder what you should get for Ria; I'd say movies would be a hit every time. She loves anything PRINCESS and Barbie. And, believe it or not, the Barbie animated movies are QUITE cool and GOOD!! They (those I've seen) always have a moral to tell and tell it in a very accessible manner. They are sweet and pretty easy to watch, too! But she also loves TEA set stuff, cooking stuff, and dress up stuff. This is totally unnecessary info at this time because there is no reason that anyone reading this should purchase anything for Ria... but still. I guess I'm just rambling in fatigue at this point. Perhaps I should end my blatherings. Till tomorrow....