I recently signed on as an “Independent AVON Representative” and could not be more excited! I have tried multiple “independent sales” companies in the past, but this time it truly feels different. I decided to join AVON for multiple reasons. The first being that I LOVE their products. If you are like me, you have used AVON for years because your mom used it too.

The second reason I joined is because there is only a $10 start up fee. I have NEVER been able to join a company for a fee that low. In fact, both companies I “dabbled in” required $100 upfront or out of my first paycheck.

Another reason I joined AVON is because they offer high quality products that keep with current and upcoming trends that are also very affordable. I LOVE that AVON is always enhancing their product lines and providing them at unbelievable prices.

Finally, I LOVE the support that AVON provides its representatives. Did you know that you can learn about the products, how to place orders, and how to build your business all through online tutorials? Yeah, it’s pretty cool to not have to spend hours going to training meetings just to learn the basics. A few short videos from the comfort of your own home and your set!

For more information about how to become an Independent AVON Representative, contact me at deannanbrad@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

As a teacher, I know the most important thing to remember when organizing a stress-free kids event is to stay organized with a well-developed plan. No matter how simple or how elaborate you want your kids birthday party to be, you can implement a fun-filled party by taking advantage of a few birthday party planning ideas:

1. Plan ahead. Being prepared will significantly reduce your stress level the days leading up to the party. Begin planning at least 6 weeks before the birthday party.
2. Make a list, check it twice. Write down your ideas for the party and keep a party planning checklist of the things you will need to implement the party. Make multiple copies of your list and keep them in spots that are handy. You will be more likely to refer to the list and check things off frequently rather than rushing to get everything done right before the party.
3. Don’t spend a lot. Money alone can be a source of stress. Don’t feel like you have to spend a fortune to give your child the best party. Most times, kids aren’t even going to remember all the fancy details. Instead, go green. Make use of household items for decorations, games, and party favors. Invitations can be personally made by your child on recycled paper.
4. Consider the time of day. If you are not a morning person, then a kids birthday party scheduled for mid-morning is probably not a good idea. Other reasons for scheduling an afternoon party are to allow yourself extra time for the little details, allowing time for family and friends to arrive from out of town, and to have more control over when the party ends.
5. Enlist some help. When it comes to party planning, kids can offer the most enthusiastic help of all. By having them help with decorations and game set-up, it teaches them responsibility and adds their personal touch to their own party. If that option does seem too stressful, don’t be shy to ask friends, family, and neighbors to lend a hand.

Planning a kids birthday party? Keep it stress-free by keeping track of your to-do’s with a handy birthday party planner. This Birthday Party Planner Checklist will help you organize all the party details so can enjoy the reason for the celebration-your little one!

I recently came across a neat little site for new moms, expecting moms and those who are trying to conceive (I am now one of those women!). Baby Zone offers a free pregnancy calendar, a due date calendar, a week by week pregnancy guide, information on fetal development, fertility, and trimesters, as well as a host of other valuable advice. I registered for the free “Ovulation Tracker”. This pregnancy ovulation calendar was created and personalized for me so I know exactly when my body is ready to receive, you know, the baby batter. Check out babyzone.com for some great information on all things baby.

Buying gifts for Father’s Day can be difficult. If you are like me, you want to buy dad a Father’s Day present that is unique, yet something he will get a lot of use out of. In my search of good Father’s Day gifts, I found some that are both fun and functional. Here is my list of the top 10 Father’s Day gifts to send this year:

1. TigerDirect.com is an electronics playground. They offer HDTV’s. laptops, computer parts and components, camcorders, projectors, GPS devices, and the list goes on… Check out their Father’s Day deals.
2. Shop Outdoor Sports at Walmart.com! Yes, Walmart! You will be amazed at the selection they offer on camping, fishing, and hunting gear for dad’s. All at some of the best prices. Don’t underestimate the gift-finding power of Walmart!
3. What better gift than the gift of good health. Help dad reach and maintain a fit lifestyle with some of the best shoes around-New Balance. You can Shop Online for Men’s Dunham Hiking and Work Boots! and browse the site to find a pair for yourself!
4. Is your dad a wine connoisseur? Find his favorite Merlot, Pino Grigio & more at The Wine Messenger. They offer deals on shipping, summer specials, and a wine of the month club.
5. thepopcornfactory.com offers some yummy gifts to help dad get through all those sporting events. Support dad’s favorite NFL team or join the snack of the moth club. Check out their Father’s Day and summer specials.
6. For the nature lover, visit www.thenorthface.com for deals on footwear, apparel, camping and outdoor supplies, and their newest line of mountain biking equipment.
7. Treat dad to the ultimate gift- a vacation! When a traditional hotel won’t do, book something special. You’ll find Vacation Rentals, Condos, Homes, Villas, and more at ABetterStay.com.
8. Want to wrap dad in the most comfortable sweats, fleece, and hoodies around? Check out the Daily Deals at ChampionUSA.com. Get exclusive online savings! Their clothes are so comfortable, you’ll be wearing dad’s clothes too!
9. Guess what, Crocs aren’t just for kids! If your dad has never stepped into a pair of Crocs, he is in for a treat. They are durable, extremely comfortable, perfect for the outdoor days of summer, and the best part… they do not harbor bacteria, so they will never stink! Finally, the perfect shoe for men! Visit www.crocs.com to find the perfect style for your dad.
10. Surprise dad with something vintage. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful line of vintage-style watches from Fossil.com. In addition, you will find men’s apparel, sunglasses, and wallets. Check out their Father’s Day deals and receive Free Shipping Over $100.

Here are five more that I felt were worth mentioning. Happy shopping…

1. For a little bit of everything, your dad will love the big and tasty Father’s Day gift baskets from giftbaskets.com. Choose from a variety of themes-Starbucks, golf, wine, sports fanatic, BBQ, and the list goes on. Receive 10% off all Gift Baskets with promo code ZK-8978.
2. For the dad who loves coffee, only the best will do. Check out Cafe Britt’s organic gourmet coffee fresh from Costa Rica. Don’t forget to sample some of the chocolate covered coffee beans, nuts and fruits. Dad is sure to appreciate the 100% Fair Trade Certified gourmet coffee by Café Britt – Shop NOW!
3. Not a coffee drinker? Adagio’s Gourmet Teas from adagioteas.com is sure to delight dad! The teas are categorized by type (decaf, oolong, herbal, etc.) and then by flavor. This makes for quite a selection! Be sure to check out their unique offerings of teapots with diffusers and kettles.
4. Great Gifts for Dad at Plow & Hearth! Help dad enjoy summer with a hammock, BBQ supplies, a fire pit, or a zero-gravity chair.
5. Summer is here and dad is probably spending a lot of time on the golf course. Help him perfect his game with everything golf from GigaGolf.com – Free Shipping.

Here is a list of some of my favorite sewing books. All of them offer some really cute projects to sew. You will find that each one presents the directions for making each project in simple, user-friendly language to meet the needs of the beginner sewer to even the highly advanced. Some of these books also provide the patterns for each project directly in the back of the book! Happy sewing…

My sister-in-law gave me this book (thanks Sara!) that offers 16 different styles of skirts to sew. Cute, creative designs offered in a user-friendly language. Love it!

Of course I would include a book devoted to bags! I just love making them and you will to with this helpful book!

This is by far the BEST sewing book I have ever come across! It explains all of the sewing lingo, offers trendy and cute sewing projects, and it provides patterns! This is a must have for any sewer!

This book has the cutest projects to make for kids. Who knew one could make so much with a yard of fabric?

This book has everything you need to know about sewing and the pictures are great for us visual learners!

Another great book for beginners. I love that this book teaches “the basics” in a basic way : )

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the projects in this book! (Of course, many of them are bags.) I also love the choice of fabrics the author uses.

I had to include this book because it is by Heather Ross and I simply love her stuff.

Cute projects using creative fabrics-that’s Anna Maria Horner.

Love her projects and fabrics. This book is crisp, clean and thorough. I like that it offers actual concepts about design.

Whether you’re hand delivering, e-viting, or mailing birthday party invitations, you want to make sure your guests receive their invitation 4-5 weeks before the party. This is generally enough time for families to save the date on their calendars and make any preparations for the party before hand (buying a gift, arranging to dress “in character” for a particular theme, etc.).

When hand-delivering invitations in your circle of friends, be discreet. Just because you may be good friends with someone, doesn’t mean you have to invite them. This is especially true if your children do not even play together. Be cognizant of their feelings so that you do remain friends, but remember that it is your child’s birthday party.

In terms of having your child hand-deliver invites at school, check with the classroom teacher first. As a teacher, I can tell you that feelings often do get hurt when some kids are invited and others aren’t. Try to take advantage of the time after school.

E-viting has become an extremely popular method of inviting people to parties. Sending an e-vite is not only quick and convenient, but many sites offer them free and in a variety of designs. The most popular sites that offer e-vites are evite.com and zoji.com.

Mailing birthday party invitations can be quick and easy as long as you have everyone’s address. If you are in need of addresses, begin calling, e-mailing, and texting those on the guest list well in advance to make sure all the invites are mailed out on time. Once mailed, you can count on the United States Postal Service to get your invitations to their destinations with 1-3 business days. Running low on stamps? You can now customize and print postage right from your own home! Last but not least, don’t forget to include a return address on each invitation. You don’t want any of those precious invites getting lost (we all know the turmoil a “no response” creates)!

Once you have chosen a birthday party theme, a birthday party location, and have narrowed down a date and time, you will be prepared to get the invitations sent out. Birthday invites can be as simple or elaborate as you want. With a home computer and colored printer, you can use your creativity to make your own invitations. Although you may save some money making your own invitations, the amount of time involved will depend on your computer skills. The main advantage to printing your own birthday invites is that once you type in the details of the party you can then print multiple copies.

If time is an issue, you can always purchase invitations already created. Many times these invitations will be sold by theme and will follow a line of matching decorations. These birthday invitations are both visually appealing and reasonably priced. The disadvantage to these kids invites is that the details of the party have to be repeatedly written on each invitation.

For professional and worry-free invitations, you can choose from a variety of companies that offer high-quality printed invitations with a personalized touch. These invitations come in a multitude of colors and designs to meet your unique needs. Companies include:

AmyAdele.com offering Fun Party Invitations for Kids. Quick Delivery. 100% Personalized.

birthday in a box

My Expression

paper culture

zazzle.com

It has finally happened to me. As I finish out my last two months of being 33, I have officially caught the “feva”. I have decided that I am truly ready to be a mommy. A part of me has always wanted to be part of the elite group of women who are moms-that is how Mommyship got its start. The other part of me has always feared the actual commitment to becoming a mom. My mother died when I was 11 years old. Shortly after that, my father started dating and remarried. That was a pivotal moment in my life. One that would always have me wishing that I had received more time to be nurtured. As I shift my thinking from the past to the future, I know in my heart that God has prepared me. It is He that has taken care of me and will continue to do so as He guides me for what is to come. God is amazing and I feel very excited and blessed to be a woman-a unique creation that has the ability to sustain a life designed by Him. What a beautiful thing!

I recently came across some really cute and creative Father’s Day gifts that will get the kids involved. There are a lot of crafts out there that make nice Father’s Day gifts, but they are not really functional. This Father’s Day, have the kids make something dad can actually use.
Car Nut Frame- Kaboose.com offers the directions and supply list for this manly picture frame. This craft can be modified by exchanging the washers and bolts for just about any small handyman item. Add a measuring tape, a few Allen wrenches, or a Carpenter’s pencil to really spice things up!

What dad/golf lover wouldn’t love a mini golf course right in their own backyard? TLC.com tells you how to make it happen for your favorite dad.

I love all the useful goodies included in this “Dad’s Survival Kit“. This gift is especially meaningful for families that have a dad that travels or who is in the military.

On a budget this year? Raid dad’s garage to create the ultimate Father’s Day Throne. Dad is sure to love these upgrades to his favorite lounging spot!

Warning! This gift may be taken over by the kids once assembled. Dad may also have a difficult time getting work done with his new Desktop Basketball Game.