Spring and Summer Shananigans 2011 Part 1

Nothing says you are behind "blogstyle" like finally blogging about summer (and well...maybe late Spring too) during the first fullblown week of school in mid August. Lordy, my kids started 5th and 3rd grade this year. How is that even possible?? Didn't I just birth to them?? Wasn't I just on maternity leave?? Seriously, back to topic please...fooooocus.....(I've developed a mild to moderate to severe case of ADD in my late 30ll's in case you are wondering)

At the end of school came the Dance Recital. This year was pretty special because Anne Craig's class actually performed a mother/daughter number. Yessss, I was in the dance recital. It was a lot of fun and something neat for the ole memories since I have memories of doing the same thing with Annie when we both took dancing from Minne Simpson back in Belzoni. Dancing Queen

with Mary Helen Brown

Me and Anne Craig

Here we are with Annie and Rick

Onward May....
What's next??? "Start Spreading The News.....We left mid May....We were a big big part of it.....NEW YORK blog post coming you way....!! Stay tuned!!

The Portrait Story

Well, it all happened rather quickly. You see, our distant cousin, Equen Rhodes, is a very distinguished artist. He and Big Floyd are like 3rd cousins perhaps so that makes him like our 4th or 5th. Kinda stretching it I guess but still none the less we claim relations. Anyway, he has painted 2 portraits for my friend, Romney Brock, and around here he is just considered one of the best if not THE. One day I was discussing with Romney the idea of maybe wanting to have a portrat done of me with my children. I knew the exact spot in my house where I invisioned it hanging. I also knew at age 38 that this was the best it was gonna get so I best get on it!! Not to mention the kids were not babies anymore (we had plenty of pictures of that era)and the "gawky" years were just arond the corner. The time to strike was now!! Romney encouraged me to go ahead and call Equen because she knew he had some time and was probably ready to take on another project. So I did just that. Equen lives in Starkville so we began commuting over a few Sundays a month starting in September of last year for the few sittings and skin tone match ups. The entire experience was pretty pleasant considering I was picturing my children being very impatient as they sat motionless while someone painted them.

Long story short...AMAZING is how I felf about the entire process and soooo glad that I have such a TREASURE to enjoy for years and years to come. (I guess my children can fight over who will inherit it one day since they are both in it..ha. I didn't think of that predicament. Oh well!)Equen delivered it Christmas Eve of last year where the portrait still sits propped today in my dining room on the sideboard. I love it!! Now if I can only decide on the frame...hmmmmm. I am currently in that decision process now. Wish me luck!

Anne Craig's 2nd Grade Play- "Teach the World to Sing"

"Break A Leg" Class of 2021!!

Papa was able to make it to the show as well. Anne Craig was a little French girl if you were wondering about the beret on her head...ha

It was nice that Blewett was home so she could come view the major entertainment!!

Clayton came to watch too

with Annie and Rick


Madison, Elizabeth and Anne Craig

With Connie Black, the Pillow Academy Elementary music teacher. Thank you for teaching our children to sing and love music!

Easter "Coolness"

Look who came to visit us this Spring?? Chimneystyle!

Nope, not Santa! YEP, this little feathered fellow came on down the chimney and made his way around the den. Thank goodness nothing was seriously destroyed. Have you ever??

What If?

It's been 6 mos since I announced that I started a NEW business!! At the time, I was thinking....am I crazy? Do I have the time? Do I really need the money??? Many of my blog-followers have asked me over the last few months how it is going?? And now, I'm so excited to share what has happened since I started in January!!
What if we had been an initial investor with Proactiv Solution when it came out in the 1980s???? and WHAT IF I was able to profit off of just a LITTLE of their exploding skincare line??? But...back then, it wasn't even an option b/c Proactiv was "launched" only thru infomercials. That's how the company made money - thru infomercials. We've all watched it over the years and NOW celebrities like Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry are users and spokespeople for Proactiv!!!!
Rodan & Fields came out with a NEW line of skincare - for Anti-Aging and Sundamage - and it was in high-end department stores from 2001-2007...and it was the #1 selling product line in Nordstroms. In 2008, the doctors said, what if we brought dermatology to the masses???? There isn't a Nordstroms in or Greenwood, Mississippi or Fairhope, AL!! So....that's when they decided to enter Direct Sales and use consultants around the country to promote these amazing products!! The best part?? They didn't have to do ANY advertising!! Beauty Editors found them!! Allure Magazine, Lucky Magazine, the Today Show.....all FREE kudos to R&F new products!! Unsolicited advertisement!!! Isn't that the best kind??? Since R&F was launched into Direct Sales in 2008, the company has grown 800%!!!!! Think they made the right move??? So, I'm not waiting to ask myself WHAT IF I had become an initial investor in R&F this time!! I invested. I produced. I profit!!!!!
So, since January, I am LOVING this "job". I still work full time for now in the schools and still prn for local home health agencies but can still work this job in and be very successful at it I might add. I am currently a Level V consultant and have 8 Executive Consultants activley under me at this time!! And my paychecks have increased each month since I started!! AND My team is continuing to grow.

I am so proud of everyone and even my personal customers are so supportive and wonderful. I love watching my team's paychecks grow too - and help people quit their jobs that they've hated for years and stay home with their kids - or help out with household bills - or pay for a much-needed trip away with the husband!! My "job" has been everything I wanted it to be when I signed on. I don't work HARD. I work SMART. And my "work" involves having coffee/lunch/dinner with friends and catching up with old buddies. Can you even consider that work?

So.....I don't have to ask myself "What If" anymore. I'm asking "When"? And btw - our company is about to go GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL!!! Can you imagine where my team can grow then??????? So if you are reading this and want to ask me more questions about it....I'm an open book!! Contact me!! :)

Piano recital 2011

Floyd and Anne Craig take piano from Janice Shanks who is an absolutely wonderful piano teacher. They are able to take at school which is an added plus. Janice usually gets her students to basically "dress the part" of their particular pieces. Floyd's was "El Torrito" and Anne Craig's was "I've Got Music"....hense the specific costumes. We were very proud of each of them.

With Cole and Graydon

Posing

We love Mrs. Shanks

So proud